Deuteronomy 15

15 ¹At the end of every seven years you are to grant a release of debts. ²This is the release: every creditor cancels the loan to his neighbor. He must not collect from his neighbor or brother, because your Father has proclaimed a release. ^a a v2 Every seventh year, debts owed between fellow Israelites were forgiven — a regular reset that kept poverty from hardening into permanent ruin. ³You may require payment from a foreigner, but release your brother from what he owes you. ⁴Yet there need be no poor among you, for your Father will surely bless you in the land your Father gives you to possess as an inheritance. ⁵Only if you truly listen to your Father's voice, carefully keeping this whole command I give you today. ⁶For your Father will bless you as he promised you. You will lend to many nations, borrow from none; rule over many nations, none will rule you.

⁷If one of your brothers is poor in any town in the land your Father is giving you, do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother. ⁸Rather, open your hand wide to him and freely lend him enough for whatever he needs. ⁹Be careful not to let a wicked thought fill your heart—'The seventh year, the release year, is near'—turning your eye evil against your poor brother, giving him nothing. He'll cry out to your Father against you, and you'll bear the sin. ¹⁰Give to him generously, and do not let your heart be grieved when you give to him, because of this your Father will bless you in all your work, everything your hand attempts. ¹¹Since the poor will never leave the land, I command you: open your hand wide to your brother, poor and needy, in your land.

Freeing Hebrew Servants

¹²If your brother, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year send him away free from you. ¹³And when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. ¹⁴Supply him freely from your flock, threshing floor, and winepress, as your Father has blessed you. ¹⁵Remember you were a slave in the land of Egypt; your Father redeemed you—that's why I command you this today. ¹⁶But if he says to you, 'I won't leave you,' because he loves you and your household, thriving with you, ¹⁷then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door; he becomes your servant forever. Do the same for your female servant. ¹⁸Don't think it hard to free him—his six years were worth double a hired hand's wages. Your Father will bless you in all you do.

Firstborn Animals Set Apart

¹⁹Dedicate every firstborn male of your herd and flock to your Father. Don't work the herd's firstborn or shear the flock's firstborn. ²⁰Each year you and your household will eat it before your Father where your Father chooses. ²¹But if it has a defect, lame or blind, any serious flaw, don't sacrifice it to your Father. ²²Eat it in your towns, unclean and clean together, like gazelle or deer. ²³Only you must not eat its blood; pour it out on the ground like water.