Deuteronomy 15:1-9

1 At the end of every seven years, you must tell those who owe you anything that they do not have to pay you back.

2 This is how you must do it: Everyone who has loaned money must cancel the loan and not make a neighbor or relative pay it back. This is the Lord's time for canceling what people owe.

3 You may make a foreigner pay what is owed to you, but you must not collect what another Israelite owes you.

4 But there should be no poor people among you, because the Lord your God will richly bless you in the land he is giving you as your own.

5 He will bless you if you obey the Lord your God completely, but you must be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today.

6 The Lord your God will bless you as he promised, and you will lend to other nations, but you will not need to borrow from them. You will rule over many nations, but none will rule over you.

7 If there are poor among you, in one of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be selfish or greedy toward them.

8 But give freely to them, and freely lend them whatever they need.

9 Beware of evil thoughts. Don't think, "The seventh year is near, the year to cancel what people owe." You might be mean to the needy and not give them anything. Then they will complain to the Lord about you, and he will find you guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 15:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 15

This chapter treats of a release of debts every seventh year, to which a blessing is promised if attended to, De 15:1-6, which seventh year of release should not hinder lending to a poor man in distress, even though it was nigh at hand, De 15:7-11 and of letting servants go free, whether manservant or maidservant, at the end of six years' servitude, De 15:12-15 but if unwilling to go, and desirous of staying, must have his ear bored through with an awl, and serve to the year of jubilee, De 15:16-18 and of sanctifying and eating the firstlings of the herd and flock where the Lord directs, De 15:19-23.