Deuteronomy Chapter 15

The Year for Canceling Debts

¹ “At the end of every seven years, cancel debts. ² Creditors are to let go of what they’ve loaned to their fellow Hebrews. Don’t exact it from them; Yahveh has canceled the debt. ³ You can exact it from a foreigner, but not from fellow citizens. ⁴ There won’t be any poor among you because Yahveh will bless you like he promised ⁵ if you obey this commandment. ⁶ Lend to other nations, but don’t borrow from them. You’ll rule other nations; they won’t rule you.

⁷ “If there are poor fellow citizens in your town, be sensitive. ⁸ Be willing to lend them what they need. ⁹ Don’t harbor the selfish thought, ‘The seventh year is coming, the year of debt cancelation,’ and not help them. They may call out to Yahveh, and it’ll be a sin on you. ¹⁰ Give generously without regret so Yahveh will bless what you undertake. ¹¹ You’ll always have poor people in your land. Be willing to open your hand to your kin, the needy, the poor.                   

Deut 15:1-11

Release of Hebrew Slaves

            ¹² “If you buy Hebrew men or women, they’ll serve you six years and go free the seventh. ¹³ When you set them free, don’t send them away with nothing. ¹⁴ Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, your wine vat. Give to them in proportion to how Yahveh has blessed you. ¹⁵ Remember, you were a slave in Egypt, and he redeemed you. ¹⁶ If a servant says he doesn’t want to leave, because he loves you and your household and gets along well with you, ¹⁷ pierce his ear with an awl. He’ll be your servant permanently. Do the same thing with a maidservant. ¹⁸ Don’t let it bother you to set servants free. They’ve given you six years with twice the service a hired hand gives. That way Yahveh will bless you in whatever you do.

Sacrifice of Firstborn Male Animals

¹⁹ “Consecrate to Yahveh the male firstborn in your herd and flock. Don’t work the firstborn in your herd or shear the firstborn in your flock. ²⁰ You and your family will eat it every year with Yahveh where he designates. ²¹ Don’t sacrifice it if it has any serious defect like lameness or blindness. ²² Eat it at home; ceremonially clean and unclean alike can eat it—like a gazelle or deer. ²³ Only don’t eat its blood. Drain it out on the ground.                                    

Deut 15:12-23