Devarim 15:9

9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy lev beliyaal, saying, The seventh year, the shnat hashemittah (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 Hashem against thee, and it be chet (sin) unto thee.

Devarim 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Devarim 15:9 In-Context

7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy she’arim in thy land which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine lev, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

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

9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy lev beliyaal, saying, The seventh year, the shnat hashemittah (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 Hashem against thee, and it be chet (sin) unto thee.

10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine lev shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing Hashem Eloheicha shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

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