Deuteronomy 15

New King James Version

Debts Canceled Every Seven Years^(A)

15 “At the end of^(B)everyseven years you shall grant a^[a]releaseof debts.² And thisisthe form of the release: Every creditor who has lentanythingto his neighbor shall^[b]releaseit;he shall not^[c]requireitof his neighbor or his brother, because it is called theLord’s release.³ Of a foreigner you may requireit;but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother,⁴ except when there may be no poor among you; for theLordwill greatly^(C)bless you in the land which theLordyour God is giving you to possessasan inheritance—⁵ only if you carefully obey the voice of theLordyour God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today.⁶ For theLordyour God will bless you just as He promised you;^(D)you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

Generosity to the Poor

⁷ “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the^[d]gates in your land which theLordyour God is giving you,^(E)you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,⁸ but^(F)you shall^[e]open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.⁹ Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your^(G)eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and^(H)he cry out to theLordagainst you, and^(I)it become sin among you.¹⁰ You shall surely give to him, and^(J)your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because^(K)for this thing theLordyour God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.¹¹ For^(L)the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall^[f]open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’

The Law Concerning Bondservants

^12 (M)“If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is^(N)sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.¹³ And when you^[g]send him away free from you, you shall not let him go away empty-handed;¹⁴ you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress.From whattheLordyour God has^(O)blessed you with, you shall give to him.^15 (P)You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and theLordyour God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.¹⁶ And^(Q)if it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you,¹⁷ then you shall take an awl and thrustitthrough his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.¹⁸ It shall not seem hard to you when you send him away free from you; for he has been worth^(R)a double hired servant in serving you six years. Then theLordyour God will bless you in all that you do.

The Law Concerning Firstborn Animals

^19 (S)“All the firstborn males that come from your herd and your flock you shall^[h]sanctify to theLordyour God; you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.^20 (T)You and your household shall eatitbefore theLordyour God year by year in the place which theLordchooses.^21 (U)But if there is a defect in it,if it islame or blindor hasany serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to theLordyour God.²² You may eat it within your gates;^(V)the unclean and the cleanpersonalikemay eat it,asif it werea gazelle or a deer.²³ Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground like water.