Deuteronomy 15

At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

Every seven years, let go and start anew.

And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’s release.

Here's how the release works: If you've lent anything to your neighbor, cancel the debt. Don't demand it back from your neighbor or your brother, because the Lord's time of release has been proclaimed.

Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

You can insist on repayment from a stranger, but with your sibling, let go of the debt; show compassion.

Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:

There should be no poor among you, though, for God will shower you with blessings in the land He has given you as your inheritance,

Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

Only if you truly listen to God's voice and follow all His commands given today, with all your heart.

For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

God, in His faithfulness, showers you with blessings as He promised. You'll be in a position to help many nations, without needing their help in return. You'll lead many nations, but none will lead you.

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

If you see a fellow countryman in your community struggling with poverty, don't turn a blind eye or withhold your helping hand. Remember, the land you live in is a gift from God.

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Open your heart and generously lend to those in need, providing enough to fulfill their wants.

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Be careful not to let greed creep into your heart, thinking, "It's the seventh year, the year of forgiveness, I don't need to help my struggling brother." If you ignore his needs and he cries out to God, it will be your sin.

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

Definitely help others, and don't feel upset about it. Because when you do, God will bless everything you do and everything you work on.

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

There will always be those in need among us. So, I urge you, open your heart and generously extend your hand to your fellow man, especially to those who are poor and needy in your community.

And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

If your fellow Hebrew, man or woman, becomes your servant for six years, you must set them free in the seventh year.

And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:

When you set him free, don't let him leave with nothing; fill his hands with kindness.

Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

Give him generously from your livestock, your crops, and your wine. Share with him the blessings God has given you.

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.

Remember, you were once a slave in Egypt, but God, your Lord, set you free. That's why I'm giving you this command today.

And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;

If he promises to stay with you, it's because he truly loves you and your home, and feels content in your presence.

Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.

Then, with a tool, pierce his ear against the door, symbolizing his lifelong commitment to serve you. This same act should be done to your female servant as well.

It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.

Don't feel burdened when you set him free, for his six years of service were twice as valuable as a hired hand. Trust that God will bless all your actions.

All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.

Dedicate every firstborn male from your livestock to God, whether it's from your herd or flock. Don't put the firstborn of your cattle to work or shear the firstborn of your sheep.

Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.

Every year, you and your family should joyfully eat these firstborn animals before God, in the place He chooses, expressing your gratitude and devotion to Him.

And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.

If there's any flaw, like lameness or blindness, or any other defect, don't offer it as a sacrifice to your God.

Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart.

Eat it at home in your own town, whether you're ritually pure or not. Everyone can eat it, just as you would eat a gazelle or a deer.

Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.

Simply put, don't consume its blood. Instead, let it flow back to the earth, like water.