Deḇarim (Deuteronomy) 15

Deut 15:1 “At the end of every seven years you make a release of debts.
Deut 15:2 “And this is the word of the release: Every creditor is to release
what he has loaned to his neighbour, he does not require it of his neighbour
or his brother, because it is called the release of יהוה.
Deut 15:3 “Of a foreigner you could require it, but your hand is to release
whatever is owed by your brother.
Deut 15:4 “Only, there should be no poor among you. For יהוה does greatly
bless you in the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you to possess as an
inheritance,
Deut 15:5 only if you diligently obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim, to guard
to do all these commands which I am commanding you today.
Deut 15:6 “For יהוה your Elohim shall bless you as He promised you. And
you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And you shall rule
over many nations, but they do not rule over you.
Deut 15:7 “When there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, within
any of the gates in your land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, do not
harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
Deut 15:8 for you shall certainly open your hand to him and certainly lend
him enough for his need, whatever he needs.
Deut 15:9 “Be on guard lest there be a thought of Beliya‛al in your heart,
saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is near,’ and your eye is evil
against your poor brother and you give him naught. And he shall cry out to
יהוה against you, and it shall be a sin in you.
Deut 15:10 “You shall certainly give to him, and your heart should not be
grieved when you give to him, because for this reason יהוה your Elohim does
bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
Deut 15:11 “Because the poor one does not cease from the land. Therefore I
am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall certainly open your hand to your
brother, to your poor and to your needy one, in your land.’
Deut 15:12 “When your brother is sold to you, a Heḇrew man or a Heḇrew
woman, and shall serve you six years, then let him go free from you in the
seventh year.
Deut 15:13 “And when you send him away free from you, let him not go
away empty-handed.
Deut 15:14 “You shall richly supply him from your flock, and from your
threshing-floor, and from your winepress. With that which יהוה has blessed
you with, give to him.
Deut 15:15 “And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of
Mitsrayim, and יהוה your Elohim redeemed you. Therefore I am commanding
you this word today.
Deut 15:16 “And it shall be, when he says to you, ‘I do not go away from
you,’ because he loves you and your house, because it is good for him with
you,
Deut 15:17 then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the
door, and he shall be your servant forever. Do the same to your female
servant.
Deut 15:18 “Let it not be hard in your eyes when you send him away free
from you, for he has been worth a double hired servant in serving you six
years. And יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in all that you do.
Deut 15:19 “Set apart to יהוה your Elohim all the first-born males that come
from your herd and your flock. Do no work with the first-born of your herd,
nor shear the first-born of your flock.
Deut 15:20 “You and your household are to eat it before יהוה your Elohim
year by year in the place which יהוה chooses.
Deut 15:21 “But when there is any defect in it, lame or blind, or has any evil
defect, do not slaughter it to יהוה your Elohim.
Deut 15:22 “Eat it within your gates – the unclean and the clean alike – as
the gazelle, and as the deer.
Deut 15:23 “Only, do not eat its blood, pour it on the ground like water.