The Fifth Book of Moses: Deuteronomy

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

(Exodus 23:10–13; Leviticus 25:1–7)

At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts.

This is the manner of the release: Every creditor will cancel that which he has lent to his neighbor; he will not demand it from his neighbor or his brother because Yahweh’s cancellation of debts has been proclaimed.

From a foreigner you may demand it; but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand must release.

However, there should be no poor among you, for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land that he gives you as an inheritance to possess,

if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all these commandments that I am commanding you today.

For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you; you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

Generosity in Lending and Giving

(Matthew 6:1–4)

If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother;

but you must surely open your hand to him and surely lend him sufficient for his need.

Be careful not to have a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is near,’ so that you will not be stingy in regard to your poor brother and give him nothing; he might cry out to Yahweh about you, and it would be sin for you.

You must surely give to him, and your heart must not be sorry when you give to him, because in return for this Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hand to.

For the poor will never cease to exist in the land; therefore I command you and say, ‘You must surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.’

Hebrew Servants

(Exodus 21:1–11)

If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let him go free from you.

When you let him go free from you, you must not let him go empty-handed.

You must liberally provide for him out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As Yahweh your God has blessed you, you must give to him.

You must remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that Yahweh your God redeemed you; therefore I am commanding you today to do this.

It will happen that if he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, and because he is well off with you,

then you must take an awl and thrust it through his ear to a door, and he will be your servant forever. You must do the same with your female servant.

It must not seem difficult for you to let him go free from you, because he has served you for six years and given twice the value of a hired person. Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do.

Firstborn Animals

(Exodus 13:1–16)

All the firstborn males in your herd and your flock you must set apart to Yahweh your God. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

You must eat the firstborn before Yahweh your God year by year in the place that Yahweh will choose, you and your household.

If it has any blemish-for example, if it is lame or blind, or has any blemish whatever-you must not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.

You will eat it within your gates; the unclean and the clean persons alike must eat it, as you would eat a gazelle or a deer.

Only you must not eat its blood; you must pour its blood out on the ground like water.

(Exodus 23:10–13; Leviticus 25:1–7)

At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts.

This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not require payment from his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’s release has been proclaimed.

Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release.

However there will be no poor with you (for the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess)

if only you diligently listen to the LORD your God’s voice, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you today.

For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

Generosity in Lending and Giving

(Matthew 6:1–4)

If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;

but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks.

Beware that there not be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,” and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing; and he cry to the LORD against you, and it be sin to you.

You shall surely give, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because it is for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hand to.

For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.

Hebrew Servants

(Exodus 21:1–11)

If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.

When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty.

You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.

You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore I command you this thing today.

It shall be, if he tells you, “I will not go out from you,” because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you,

then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.

It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for he has been double the value of a hired hand as he served you six years. The LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.

Firstborn Animals

(Exodus 13:1–16)

You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, you and your household.

If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

You shall eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer.

Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water.