Deuteronomy 15:1-11

King James Version

15 At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

²And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release.

³Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

⁴Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the Lord shall greatly bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:

⁵Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.

⁶For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

⁷If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

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

⁹Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, 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 the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

¹⁰Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

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

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Deuteronomy 15:1-11

New International Version

The Year for Canceling Debts^(A)

15 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.^(B) ²This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. ³You may require payment from a foreigner,^(C) but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. ⁴However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless^(D) you, ⁵if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow^(E) all these commands I am giving you today. ⁶For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.^(F)

⁷If anyone is poor^(G) among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted^(H) toward them. ⁸Rather, be openhanded^(I) and freely lend them whatever they need. ⁹Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,^(J) is near,” so that you do not show ill will^(K) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.^(L) ¹⁰Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;^(M) then because of this the Lord your God will bless^(N) you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹There will always be poor people^(O) in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.^(P)

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Deuteronomy 15:1-11

English Standard Version

The Sabbatical Year

15 “At the end of ^(A)every seven years you shall grant a release. ²And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed. ³^(B)Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release. ⁴^(C)But there will be no poor among you; ^(D)for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— ⁵^(E)if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. ⁶For the Lord your God will bless you, ^(F)as he promised you, and ^(G)you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and ^(H)you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.

⁷“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, ^(I)you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, ⁸but ^(J)you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. ⁹Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your ^(K)eye look grudgingly^[a] on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he ^(L)cry to the Lord against you, and ^(M)you be guilty of sin. ¹⁰You shall give to him freely, and ^(N)your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because ^(O)for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. ¹¹For ^(P)there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ^(Q)‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

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Footnotes

Deuteronomy 15:9 Or be evil; also verse 10

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

Christian Standard Bible

Debts Canceled

15 “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.^(A) ²This is how to cancel debt: Every creditor^[a] 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 collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

⁴“There 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^(B)— ⁵if only you obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow every one of these commands I am giving you today. ⁶When the Lord your God blesses you as he has promised you, you will lend to many nations but not borrow; you will rule many nations, but they will not rule you.

Lending to the Poor

⁷“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. ⁸Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. 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. ¹⁰Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart^[b] when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do.^[c] ¹¹For there will never cease to be poor people in the land;^(C) that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.’

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Footnotes

15:2 Lit owner of a loan of his hand
15:10 Lit and let not your heart be grudging
15:10 Lit you put your hand to

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

New American Standard Bible 1995

The Sabbatic Year

15 “^(A)At the end of every seven years you shall ^[a]grant a remission of debts. ²This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s remission has been proclaimed. ³^(B)From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother. ⁴However, there will be no poor among you, since ^(C)the Lord will surely bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, ⁵if only you listen obediently to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. ⁶^(D)For the Lord your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

⁷“If there is ^(E)a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your ^[b]towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, ^(F)you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; ⁸but ^(G)you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks. ⁹Beware that there is no base ^[c]thought in your heart, saying, ‘^(H)The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and ^(I)your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he ^(J)may cry to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. ¹⁰You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because ^(K)for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all ^[d]your undertakings. ¹¹^(L)For the poor will never cease to be ^[e]in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’

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Footnotes

Deuteronomy 15:1 Lit make a release
Deuteronomy 15:7 Lit gates
Deuteronomy 15:9 Lit word
Deuteronomy 15:10 Lit the putting forth of your hand
Deuteronomy 15:11 Lit in the midst of

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New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

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Deuteronomy 15:1-11

King James Version