1At the end of every seven years, you must cancel all debts.
2This is how it should be done: every creditor must release what he has lent to his neighbor. He must not demand payment from his neighbor or his brother, because Yahweh's release has been announced.
3You may demand payment from a foreigner, but you must release any debt owed by your brother.
4However, there should be no poor people among you, for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,
5if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God and carefully follow all these commands I am giving you today.
6For Yahweh your God will bless you, just as he promised. You will lend to many nations but will not need to borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
7If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in the land Yahweh your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or refuse to help your poor brother.
8Instead, you must generously open your hand to him and lend him enough to meet his needs.
9Be careful that you do not harbor a wicked thought, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is near,' and then look unkindly at your poor brother and give him nothing. If he cries out to Yahweh against you, it will be a sin for you.
10You must surely give to him, and your heart should not be sad when you give. Because of this, Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do.
11There will always be poor people in the land. That is why I command you to generously open your hand to your brother, to those in need, and to the poor in your land.
12If a fellow Hebrew, whether a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must set them free.
13When you set them free, do not send them away empty-handed.
14You must provide generously for them from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You must give to them as Yahweh your God has blessed you.
15Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt and Yahweh your God rescued you. That is why I am giving you this command today.
16However, if the servant says to you, 'I do not want to leave you,' because he loves you and your household, and is content with you,
17then you must take an awl and push it through his ear into the door, and he will be your servant for life. You must do the same for a female servant.
18It should not seem hard to you when you set him free, because he has served you for six years, providing service worth double that of a hired worker. Yahweh your God will bless you in everything you do.
19You must dedicate all the firstborn males born from your herds and flocks to Yahweh your God. You must not do any work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
20You and your household must eat it each year before Yahweh your God in the place Yahweh chooses.
21If an animal has any defect, is lame or blind, or has any other flaw, you must not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.
22You may eat it within your towns. Both clean and unclean people may eat it, just like you would eat a gazelle or a deer.
23However, you must not eat its blood. You must pour it out on the ground like water.