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Chapter 15
1 In the seventh year you shall make a remission,
2 Which shall be celebrated in this order. He to whom any thing is owing from his friend or neighbour or brother, cannot demand it again, because it is the year of remission of the Lord,
3 Of the foreigner or stranger you may exact it: of your countryman and neighbour you shall not have power to demand it again.
4 And there shall be no poor nor beggar among you: that the Lord your God may bless you in the land which he will give you in possession.
5 Yet so if you hear the voice of the Lord your God, and keep all things that he has ordained, and which I command you this day, he will bless you, as he has promised.
6 You shall lend to many nations, and you shall borrow of no man. you shall have dominion over very many nations, and no one shall have dominion over you.
7 If one of your brethren that dwells within the gates of your city in the land which the Lord your God will give you, come to poverty: you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand,
8 But shall open it to the poor man, you shall lend him, that which you perceives he has need of.
9 Beware lest perhaps a wicked thought steal in upon you, and you say in your heart: The seventh year of remission draws nigh; and you turn away your eyes from your poor brother, denying to lend him that which he asks: lest he cry against you to the Lord, and it become a sin unto you.
10 But you shall give to him: neither shall you do any thing craftily in relieving his necessities: that the Lord your God may bless you at all times, and in all things to which you shall put your hand.
11 There will not be wanting poor in the land of your habitation: therefore I command you to open your hand to your needy and poor brother, that lives in the land.
12 When your brother a Hebrew man, or Hebrew woman is sold to you, and has served you six years, in the seventh year you shall let him go free:
13 And when you send him out free, you shall not let him go away empty:
14 But shall give him for his way out of your flocks, and out of your barnfloor, and your winepress, wherewith the Lord your God shall bless you.
15 Remember that you also were a bondservant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God made you free, and therefore I now command you this.
16 But if he say: I will not depart: because he loves you, and your house, and finds that he is well with you:
17 You shall take an awl, and bore through his ear in the door of your house, and he shall serve you for ever: you shall do in like manner to your womanservant also.
18 Turn not away your eyes from them when you make them tree: because he has served you six years according to the wages of a hireling: that the Lord your God may bless you in all the works that you do.
19 Of the firstlings, that come of your herds and your sheep, you shall sanctify to the Lord your God whatsoever is of the male sex. you shall not work with the firstling of a bullock, and you shall not shear the firstlings of your sheep.
20 In the sight of the Lord your God shall you eat them every year, in the place that the Lord shall choose, you and your house.
21 But if it have a blemish, or be lame, or blind, or in any part disfigured or feeble, it shall not be sacrificed to the Lord your God.
22 But you shall eat it within the gates of your city: the clean and the unclean shall eat them alike, as the roe and as the hart.
23 Only you shall take heed not to eat their blood, but pour it out on the earth as water.