[1] At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. [2] This is
the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has
lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his
brother; because Yahweh`s release has been proclaimed. [3] Of a foreigner
you may exact it: but whatever of your is with your brother your hand shall
release. [4] However there shall be no poor with you; (for Yahweh will
surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an
inheritance to possess it;) [5] if only you diligently listen to the voice
of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command
you this day. [6] For Yahweh your God will 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 shall not rule over you. [7] If there be
with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your
land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor
shut your hand from your poor brother; [8] but you shall surely open your
hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that]
which he wants. [9] Beware that there not be a base thought in your heart,
saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be
evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to
Yahweh against you, and it be sin to you. [10] You shall surely give him,
and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for
this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that
you put your hand to. [11] For the poor will never cease out of the land:
therefore I command you, saying, You shall surely open your hand to your
brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. [12] If your
brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold to you, and serve you six
years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. [13]
When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty: [14] you
shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing
floor, and out of your winepress; as Yahweh your God has blessed you, you
shall give to him. [15] You shall remember that you were a bondservant in
the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you: therefore I command
you this thing today. [16] It shall be, if he tell you, I will not go out
from you; because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you;
[17] then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door,
and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your maid-servant you shall
do likewise. [18] It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free
from you; for to the double of the hire of a hireling has he served you six
years: and Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do. [19] All the
firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock you shall
sanctify to Yahweh your God: you shall do no work with the firstborn of
your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. [20] You shall eat it
before Yahweh your God year by year in the place which Yahweh shall choose,
you and your household. [21] If it have any blemish, [as if it be] lame or
blind, any ill blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your
God. [22] You shall eat it within your gates: the unclean and the clean
[shall eat it] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart. [23] Only you shall
not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground as water.
