Deuteronomy 15

15 ¹ At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. ² This is the release: every creditor cancels the loan to his neighbor. He must not collect from his neighbor or brother, for a release to your Father has been proclaimed. ^a a v2 Every seventh year, debts owed between fellow Israelites were forgiven — a regular reset that kept poverty from hardening into permanent ruin. ³ You may require payment from a foreigner, but release your brother from what he owes you. ⁴ There will be no poor among you, for your Father will surely bless you in the land your Father gives you to possess as an inheritance. ⁵ only if you truly listen to your Father's voice, carefully keeping this whole command I give you today. ⁶ For 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.

⁷ If 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. ⁸ Rather, open your hand wide to him and freely lend him enough for whatever he needs. ⁹ Be 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. ¹⁰ Give to him generously, without resentment when you give, because of this your Father will bless all your work, everything your hand attempts. ¹¹ Since 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

¹² If 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. ¹³ And when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. ¹⁴ Supply him freely from your flock, threshing floor, and winepress, as your Father has blessed you. ¹⁵ Remember you were a slave in the land of Egypt; your Father redeemed you — that's why I command you this today. ¹⁶ But if he says to you, 'I won't leave you,' because he loves you and your household, thriving with you, ¹⁷ Then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door; he becomes your servant forever. Do the same for your female servant. ¹⁸ Don'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

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