The Sabbatic Year

1 “aAt the end of every seven years you shall 1grant a remission of debts.

2 “This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed.

3 “aFrom a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

4 “However, there will be no poor among you, since athe Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,

5 if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today.

6 “aFor the Lord your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

7 “If there is aa poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your 1towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, byou shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

8 but ayou shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

9 “Beware that there is no base 1thought in your heart, saying, ‘aThe seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and byour eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he cmay cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you.

10 “You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because afor this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all 1your undertakings.

11 “aFor the poor will never cease to be 1in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’