Deuteronomy 15:9

9 cave ne forte subripiat tibi impia cogitatio et dicas in corde tuo adpropinquat septimus annus remissionis et avertas oculos a paupere fratre tuo nolens ei quod postulat mutuum commodare ne clamet contra te ad Dominum et fiat tibi in peccatum

Deuteronomy 15:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:9

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart
"Or, thy heart of Belial" F6; thy worthless heart, and which is without a yoke not subjected to the law of God, as every carnal heart is; and in which Belial, Satan, the prince of this world, works effectually, and inclines to evil thoughts, afflictions, and desires, which are to be guarded against:

saying, the seventh year, the year of release, is at hand:
perhaps next year, or within a few months:

and thine eye be evil against thy brother, and thou give him nought;
being of an uncompassionate and covetous disposition, shall refuse to give or lend him anything on this consideration, because the year of release will quickly come, when, if poor and unable to pay him, he would be obliged to release his debt:

and he cry unto the Lord against thee;
go to the throne of grace, and in prayer bring a charge, and lodge a complaint of unkindness and uncharitableness: and it be a sin unto thee; the Lord shall reckon it as a sin, a very heinous one, and call to an account for it.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (leylb Kbbl) "corde tuo Belial", Montanus.

Deuteronomy 15:9 In-Context

7 si unus de fratribus tuis qui morantur intra portas civitatis tuae in terra quam Dominus Deus tuus daturus est tibi ad paupertatem venerit non obdurabis cor tuum nec contrahes manum
8 sed aperies eam pauperi et dabis mutuum quod eum indigere perspexeris
9 cave ne forte subripiat tibi impia cogitatio et dicas in corde tuo adpropinquat septimus annus remissionis et avertas oculos a paupere fratre tuo nolens ei quod postulat mutuum commodare ne clamet contra te ad Dominum et fiat tibi in peccatum
10 sed dabis ei nec ages quippiam callide in eius necessitatibus sublevandis ut benedicat tibi Dominus Deus tuus in omni tempore et in cunctis ad quae manum miseris
11 non deerunt pauperes in terra habitationis tuae idcirco ego praecipio tibi ut aperias manum fratri tuo egeno et pauperi qui tecum versatur in terra
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.