Deuteronomy 15:1–11

The Year for Canceling Debts

15:1–11Ref—Lev 25:8–38

15At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.^{s 2}This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. ³You may require payment from a foreigner,^t but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. ⁴However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless^u you, ⁵if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow^v all these commands I am giving you today. ⁶For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.^w

⁷If anyone is poor^x among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted^y toward them. ⁸Rather, be openhanded^z and freely lend them whatever they need. ⁹Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,^a is near,” so that you do not show ill will^b toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.^{c 10}Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;^d then because of this the Lord your God will bless^e you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹There will always be poor people^f in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.^g