Deuteronomy 15

1 “At the end of every seven years you shalt make a 26release (shemittah).

2 And this is the manner of the release (shemittah): Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother, because 27release of יהוה (shemittah le-YHWH) has been proclaimed.

3 Of a foreigner you mayest exact it again; but that which is your with your brother your hand shall release;

4 Save when there shall be no poor among you; for יהוה shall greatly bless you in the land which יהוה your God (Elohim) giveth you for an inheritance to possess it;

5 Only if you carefully hearken unto the voice of יהוה your God (Elohim), to observe to do all these commandments which I command you this day.

6 For יהוה your God (Elohim) blesseth you, as He promised you; and you shalt lend unto many nations, but you shalt not borrow; and you shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

7 If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of your gates in your land which יהוה your God (Elohim) giveth you, you shalt not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;

8 But you shalt open your hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

9 Beware that there be not a thought in your wicked heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, year of the release (shemittah), is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you givest him nought; and he cry unto יהוה against you, and it be sin unto you.

10 You shalt surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you givest unto him, because that for this thing יהוה your God (Elohim) shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you puttest your hand unto.

11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shalt open your hand wide unto your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in your land.’

12 And if your brother, a Hebrew (Ivri) man, or a Hebrew (Ivri) woman, be sold unto you, and serve you six years; then in the seventh year you shalt let him go free from you.

13 And when you sendest him out free from you, you shalt not let him go away empty;

14 You shalt furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your floor, and out of your winepress; of that wherewith יהוה your God (Elohim) hath blessed you you shalt give unto him.

15 And you shalt remember that you wast a bondman in the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and יהוה your God (Elohim) redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.

16 And it shall be, if he says unto you, ‘I will not go away from you’, because he loveth you and your house, because he is well with you;

17 Then you shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be your servant forever. And also unto your maidservant you shalt do likewise.

18 It shall not seem hard unto you, when you sendest him away free from you; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to you, in serving you six years: and יהוה your God (Elohim) shall bless you in all that you doest.

19 All the firstling males that come of your herd and of your flock you shalt sanctify unto יהוה your God (Elohim); you shalt do no work with the firstling of your bullock, nor shear the firstling of your sheep.

20 You shalt eat it before יהוה your God (Elohim) year by year in the place which יהוה shall choose, you and your household.

21 And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, you shalt not sacrifice it unto יהוה your God (Elohim).

22 You shalt eat it within your gates: the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart.

23 Only you shalt not eat the blood thereof; you shalt pour it upon the ground as water.”