The LORD’s Remission

1“You must cancel your debts at the end of every seventh year. 2This is the way to conduct remission: every creditor must cancel the loan that his friend borrowed, and he must not pressure his friend or brother to repay it,a because remission to the LORD will be proclaimed. 3You may exact payment from a foreigner, but cancel whatever your brother owes you. 4Moreover, there will be no poor person among you, for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that heb is about to give you to possess. 5Only be certain to obey the voice of the LORD your God. Carefully observe all of these commands that I’m commanding to you today. 6For the LORD your God will bless you just as he promised. You are to lend to many nations but not borrow. Also, you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.”

Care for the Poor

7“If there should be a poor man among your relativesc in one of the cities of the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don’t be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative.d 8Instead, be sure to open your hand to him and lend him enough to lessen his need. 9Be careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near,’ and you show ill wille toward your poor relativef and not give to him. He may then call to the LORD on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin. 10You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so.g Because of this, the LORD your God will bless all your works and everything you do. 11Since poor people won’t cease to exist in the land, therefore I’m commanding you: Be sure to be generoush to your poor and needy relatives in your land.”

Releasing Slaves

12“When a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set themi free. 13But when you set them free, don’t send them away empty-handed. 14Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the LORD your God has blessed you, so give to them. 15Don’t ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore, I’m giving you these commands today.

16“Should that slavej say to you, ‘I won’t leave you,’ because he loves you and your household, and it was good for him to be with you, 17then take an awl and pierce through his earlobe into the door. Then he will be your slave forever. You are to do the same for your female slaves. 18Don’t view this as a hardship for yourself when you set him free, for he will have served you for six years—twice the time of a paid worker. Then the LORD will bless you in all that you do.”

Offering the Firstborn Male Animals

19“Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male among your herd and flock. You must not put the firstborn of your ox to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. 20Then in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your household must eat them every year at the place the LORD will choose. 21If it has a blemish—lameness, blindness, or any kind of defect—you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. 22In your citiesk both the unclean and the clean together are to eat together,l as the gazelle and the deer. 23Only you must not eat its blood. Pour it on the ground like water.”