Deuteronomy 15 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

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

Here's how it works: every creditor must release what they've lent to their neighbor. They must not pressure their neighbor or fellow Israelite to pay it back, because Yahweh's time of release has been announced.

You can collect from a foreigner, but whatever your fellow Israelite owes you, you must let go of it.

There really shouldn't be anyone poor among you, because Yahweh is going to richly provide for you in the land he's giving you to own —

but only if you carefully listen to Yahweh your God and make sure to follow every one of these commands I'm giving you today.

When Yahweh your God provides for you as he promised, you'll lend to many nations but won't need to borrow from any. You'll have influence over many nations, but none of them will have influence over you.

If anyone among you is poor — in any of your towns in the land Yahweh your God is giving you — don't be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.

Instead, be openhanded with them. Lend them whatever they need.

Watch out for this ugly thought creeping into your mind: 'The seventh year — the year of debt cancellation — is almost here,' and then you look at your poor neighbor with resentment and refuse to lend them anything. They'll cry out to Yahweh against you, and you'll be held accountable for it.

Give to them generously, and don't resent it when you do, because Yahweh your God will provide for you in everything you do and everything you put your hand to.

There will always be poor people in the land. That's why I'm commanding you: be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites — toward anyone among you who is struggling or in need.

If a fellow Hebrew — man or woman — sells themselves to you, they can serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must set them free.

And when you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed.

Be generous with them from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Share with them out of everything Yahweh your God has given you.

Remember that you were once servants in Egypt, and Yahweh your God set you free. That's why I'm giving you this command today.

But if your servant says to you, 'I don't want to leave you,' because they love you and your family and have a good life with you—

then take an awl and push it through their earlobe into the door. From then on, they're your servant for life. Do the same for your female servants.

Don't think of it as a hardship when you set them free, because they've served you for six years at half the cost of a hired worker. And Yahweh your God will provide for you in everything you do.

Set apart every firstborn male from your herds and flocks for Yahweh your God. Don't put your firstborn ox to work, and don't shear your firstborn sheep.

Each year, eat them in Yahweh's presence — you and your family — at the place Yahweh chooses.

But if the animal has any defect — if it's lame or blind or has anything seriously wrong with it — don't offer it to Yahweh your God.

You can eat it in your own town — anyone can, whether they're in a state of ritual fitness or not — just like you'd eat a gazelle or a deer.

Just don't eat the blood. Pour it out on the ground like water.