Deuteronomy, Chapter 15:

Verses from Deuteronomy, Chapter 15 of the book of Deuteronomy of the Bible.

The year to cancel debts

• 1. “At the end of every seven years, all debts will be cancelled.
• 2. This will be done in the following way: every creditor will forgive the debt that his neighbor owes him. No Israelite will demand payment from his neighbor or relative, as it is the time designated by the Lord for the cancellation of debts.
• 3. You may demand payment from a foreigner, but you must forgive any debt owed by a fellow Israelite.
• 4. Thus there will be no poverty among you, for the Lord your God will bless you abundantly in the land He has given you as an inheritance, as long as you obey all the commandments and laws that I give you today.
• 5. The Lord will bless you so much that you will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow. You will rule over many nations, but you will never be ruled by them.
• 6. “If there is a poor Israelite in any city in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not harden your hearts or close your hands toward him.
• 7. On the contrary, open your hands generously and lend him what he needs, without hesitation.
• 8. Be careful not to entertain selfish thoughts, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of forgiveness of debts, is near, and I do not want to help my poor brother.' If you do this, your brother may cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty.
• 10. Give generously and without reluctance, and may the Lord your God bless you in all your works and in everything you undertake.
• 11. There will always be poor people in the land, so I order you to open your hands to help your Israelite brother, whether he is poor or needy in his land.

The liberation of slaves

• 12. “If a fellow Hebrew, man or woman, sells himself to you and serves you for six years, in the seventh year you will set him free.
• 13. When you do, don't let him go empty-handed.
• 14. They will provide you generously from their sheep, wheat and wine, from what the Lord your God has blessed you with.
• 15. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord your God rescued you. That is why I am commanding this of you today.
• 16. “But if the slave says he doesn't want to leave you because he loves you and your family, and because he is fine with you,
• 17. then take an awl and pierce his ear through the door, and he will become your slave forever. Do the same with your slave.
• 18. Do not feel wronged when you free a slave, for the service he rendered to you for six years was worth half the service of a hired laborer. Furthermore, the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

The firstborn of animals

• 19. “Consecrate all the firstborn males of your flocks to the Lord your God. Do not use the firstborn of your oxen to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep.
• 20. Every year you and your families will eat these animals in the presence of the Lord your God, in the place He chooses.
• 21. However, if the animal has any imperfections, such as being blind or lame, or any serious defect, do not offer it as a sacrifice to the Lord your God.
• 22. You may eat it within the cities, both the unclean and the clean, just as you eat the meat of gazelle or deer.
• 23. However, do not eat the blood; pour it on the floor like water.