Leviticus 25:39-55 ▼

39 If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.

40 Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

41 Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers.

42 Because the Israelites are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt, they are not to be sold as slaves.

43 You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.

44 Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.

45 You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property.

46 You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

47 If a foreigner residing among you prospers, but your countryman dwelling near him becomes destitute and sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of his clan,

48 he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his brothers may redeem him:

49 either his uncle or cousin or any close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.

50 He and his purchaser will then count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale will be determined by the number of years, based on the daily wages of a hired hand.

51 If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption in proportion to his purchase price.

52 If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to calculate and pay his redemption according to his remaining years.

53 He shall be treated like a man hired from year to year, but a foreign owner must not rule over him harshly in your sight.

54 Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children shall be released in the Year of Jubilee.

55 For the Israelites are My servants. They are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.