Deuteronomy 15:1–11

Remission of Debt Every Seven Years

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

²“And 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 remission from Yahweh 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 needy one among you, since ^aYahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,

⁵if only you listen obediently to the voice of Yahweh your God, to be careful to do all this commandment which I am commanding you today.

⁶“^aFor Yahweh 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 needy one among you, one of your brothers, in any of your gates of the towns in your land which Yahweh your God is giving you, ^byou shall not harden your heart nor close your hand from your needy brother;

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

⁹“Beware lest there be a vile ¹thought in your heart, saying, ‘^aThe seventh year, the year of the remission of debts, is near,’ and ^byour eye is hostile toward your needy brother, and you give him nothing; then he ^cmay cry to Yahweh 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 Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you send forth your hand to do.

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