Deuteronomy 15

1At the end of every seven years you shall grant release.

2This is the procedure for the release: every creditor shall forgive what he lent his neighbor; he shall not press his neighbor or his brother, because a release to Yahweh has been proclaimed.

3You may demand repayment from a foreigner, but your hand shall release whatever your brother owes you.

4However, there will be no poor among you, for Yahweh will bless you abundantly in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess.

5Only if you listen carefully to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep and carry out all this commandment that I am commanding you today.

6For Yahweh your God will bless you as he spoke to you, and you will lend to many nations but not borrow, and you will rule over many nations but they will not rule over you.

7If a needy person, one of your brothers, is among you in one of your gates in the land Yahweh your God is giving you, do not make your heart hard or close your fist against your needy brother.

8But you shall open your hand to him and lend him enough for whatever he lacks.

9Be on guard lest a wicked thought form in your heart, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release, draws near," and your eye turn evil against your poor brother so you give him nothing; then he will cry to Yahweh against you, and it will be sin to you.

10Give generously to him, and do not let your heart resent it when you give to him, because for this matter Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you set your hand to.

11For the poor will never cease from the midst of the land; therefore I command you, saying, Freely open your hand to your brother, to your afflicted one, and to your needy one in your land.

12If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall send him away free from you.

13When you send him free from you, do not send him out empty-handed.

14Generously supply him from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress—as Yahweh your God has blessed you, so give to him.

15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this matter today.

16And it shall be, if he says to you, “I will not go out from you,” because he loves you and your house, because it goes well for him with you.

17You shall take an awl and drive it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever; you shall do likewise to your maidservant.

18You will not find it hard when you send him free from you, for your servant has served you six years for double a hired man's wages, and Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do.

19You shall consecrate to Yahweh your God every firstborn male born from your herd and flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your ox, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

20You shall eat it year after year before Yahweh your God in the place Yahweh will choose—you and your household.

21And if it has a blemish—lame or blind, or any bad blemish—you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.

22In your gates you shall eat it—the unclean and the clean alike, like the gazelle and the deer.

23But do not eat its blood; pour it on the ground like water.