International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
1"You must cancel your debts at the end of every seventh year. | 1At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. |
2This is the way to conduct remission: every creditor must cancel the loan that his friend borrowed, and he must not pressure his friend or brother to repay it, because remission to the LORD will be proclaimed. | 2This is how to cancel debt: Every creditor is to cancel what he has lent his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD's release of debts has been proclaimed. |
3You may exact payment from a foreigner, but cancel whatever your brother owes you. | 3You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you." |
4Moreover, there will be no poor person among you, for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that he is about to give you to possess. | 4There will be no poor among you, however, because the LORD is certain to bless you in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance-- |
5Only be certain to obey the voice of the LORD your God. Carefully observe all of these commands that I'm commanding to you today. | 5if only you obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow every one of these commands I am giving you today. |
6For the LORD your God will bless you just as he promised. You are to lend to many nations but not borrow. Also, you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you." | 6When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised you, you will lend to many nations but not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you." |
7"If there should be a poor man among your relatives in one of the cities of the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative. | 7If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. |
8Instead, be sure to open your hand to him and lend him enough to lessen his need. | 8Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. |
9Be careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: 'The seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near,' and you show ill will toward your poor relative and not give to him. He may then call to the LORD on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin. | 9Be careful that there isn't this wicked thought in your heart, 'The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,' and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty. |
10You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so. Because of this, the LORD your God will bless all your works and everything you do. | 10Give to him, and don't have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. |
11Since poor people won't cease to exist in the land, therefore I'm commanding you: Be sure to be generous to your poor and needy relatives in your land." | 11For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, 'You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.'" |
12"When a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set them free. | 12If your fellow Hebrew, a man or woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, you must set him free in the seventh year. |
13But when you set them free, don't send them away empty-handed. | 13When you set him free, do not send him away empty-handed. |
14Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the LORD your God has blessed you, so give to them. | 14Give generously to him from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You are to give him whatever the LORD your God has blessed you with. |
15Don't ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the LORD your God redeemed you. Therefore, I'm giving you these commands today. | 15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today. |
16"Should that slave say to you, 'I won't leave you,' because he loves you and your household, and it was good for him to be with you, | 16But if your slave says to you, 'I don't want to leave you,' because he loves you and your family, and is well off with you, |
17then take an awl and pierce through his earlobe into the door. Then he will be your slave forever. You are to do the same for your female slaves. | 17take an awl and pierce through his ear into the door, and he will become your slave for life. Also treat your female slave the same way. |
18Don't view this as a hardship for yourself when you set him free, for he will have served you for six years—twice the time of a paid worker. Then the LORD will bless you in all that you do." | 18Do not regard it as a hardship when you set him free, because he worked for you six years--worth twice the wages of a hired hand. Then the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do." |
19"Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male among your herd and flock. You must not put the firstborn of your ox to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. | 19You must consecrate to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herd and flock. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work or shear the firstborn of your flock. |
20Then in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your household must eat them every year at the place the LORD will choose. | 20Each year you and your family are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD chooses. |
21If it has a blemish—lameness, blindness, or any kind of defect—you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. | 21But if there is a defect in the animal, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. |
22In your cities both the unclean and the clean together are to eat together, as the gazelle and the deer. | 22Eat it within your gates; both the unclean person and the clean may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or deer. |
23Only you must not eat its blood. Pour it on the ground like water." | 23But you must not eat its blood; pour it on the ground like water." |
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