Deuteronomy 15
All 23 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.
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- 1Every 7 years, you must cancel all debts.
- 2This is how the release works: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor must release the debt; he must not demand repayment from his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD's release.
- 3You may still collect debts from a foreigner, but you must cancel whatever a fellow Israelite owes you.
- 4Except when there are no poor among you, for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess.
- 5but only if you carefully obey the LORD your God and follow every command I'm giving you today.
- 6The LORD your God will bless you just as he promised. You'll lend to many nations but never need to borrow. You'll rule over many nations, but none of them will rule over you.
- 7If there's a poor person among your people in any of the towns in the land the LORD your God is giving you, don't be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.
- 8Instead, be generous and freely lend them whatever they need.
- 9Be careful not to think this wicked thought: 'The 7th year — the year of debt cancellation — is almost here,' and then refuse to help your poor neighbor. If you turn them away, they'll cry out to the LORD against you, and you'll be guilty of sin.
- 10Give generously and don't resent it when you do, because the LORD your God will bless you in everything you work on and everything you put your hand to.
- 11There will always be poor people in the land. That's why I'm commanding you: be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites — toward the poor and needy in your land.
- 12If a fellow Hebrew — whether a man or a woman — is sold to you and serves you for 6 years, you must set them free in the 7th year.
- 13When you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed.
- 14Supply them generously from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Share with them from the blessings the LORD your God has given you.
- 15Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God set you free. That's why I'm giving you this command today.
- 16But if your servant says to you, "I don't want to leave," because he loves you and your family and has a good life with you,
- 17then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door. He will be your servant for life. Do the same for a female servant who chooses to stay.
- 18It must not seem hard to you when you send him away free from you, for he has been worth twice as much to you as a hired servant by serving you for 6 years. The LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.
- 19Sanctify every firstborn male from your herd and flock to the LORD your God. Do not use the firstborn of your bullock for work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep.
- 20Each year, you and your family are to eat them in the LORD's presence at the place he chooses.
- 21But if the animal has any defect — if it's lame, blind, or flawed in any way — you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
- 22Instead, eat it at home in your own town. Anyone may eat it, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, just as you would eat a gazelle or a deer.
- 23The only rule is this: don't eat the blood. Pour it out on the ground like water.