(6) 1 At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts. 2 *Deut 15:2 (Deut 15:1-3) (#4.347): T. To release all debts in the seventh Year Sabbath, the Sh'mitta ·Release· Year / R. To release all loans during the seventh Year Sabbath, the Sh'mitta ·Release· Year This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor. †Deut 15:2 (Deut 15:1-4, 15:5-6) (#4.348): T. Not to demand return of a loan at the end of the Sabbath year, the seventh Year, the Sh'mitta ·Release· Year / R. Not to pressure or claim from the borrower He shall not require payment from his neighbor and his brother; because Adonai ’s release has been proclaimed. 3 ‡Deut 15:3 (Deut 15:1-3, 15:4-6) (#10.609): T. Permission to exact a debt from a foreigner / R. To exact payment for debt from an idolater / R. Press the idolater for payment
T. Note: Even after the Sabbatical seventh Year, the Sh'mitta ·Release· Year debt release Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release. 4 However there shall be no poor with you (for Adonai will surely bless you in the land which Adonai your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it) 5 if only you sh'ma ·hear obey· sh'ma ·hear obey· Adonai your God’s voice, to observe to do all this mitzvot ·instructions· which I am enjoining to you today. 6 For Adonai your God will bless you, as he promised you. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. 7 §Deut 15:7 (Deut 15:7-11) (#8.517): T. Not to refrain from lending to a poor man and giving charity to him for whatever he needs / R. Not to withhold charity from the poor
R. Note: Rambam teaches, “Thus, whoever bestows charity fulfills an affirmative commandment, and one who shuts his eyes and refrains from giving charity not only neglects a positive commandment, but also violates a negative commandment.” If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Adonai your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; 8 *Deut 15:8 (Deut 15:7-11, 15:12-15) (#8.518): To give charity but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks. 9 †Deut 15:9 (Deut 15:7-11) (#8.519): T. Not to refrain from loaning a poor man because of the Sabbath year, the seventh Year, the Sh'mitta ·Release· Year / R. Not to refrain from lending immediately before the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss Beware that there not be a base thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand;” and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to Adonai against you, and it be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing Adonai your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I enjoin you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. 12 If your brother, a Hebrew [Immigrant] man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, and serves you six years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 ‡Deut 15:13 (Deut 15:12-15) (#8.520): Not to send away your Hebrew male servant empty handed when he goes free (see full context) When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty. 14 §Deut 15:14 (Deut 15:12-15, 15:16-18) (#8.521): T. To give generously to your Hebrew bond-servant who is released from your service (see full context) / R. Give your Hebrew bond-servant who is released from your service gifts when he goes free You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As Adonai your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery], and Adonai your God redeemed you. Therefore I enjoin you this thing today. 16 It shall be, if he tells you, “I will not go out from you,” because he 'ahav ·affectionately loves· you and your house, because he is well with you; 17 then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for he has been double value of a hired hand as he served you six years. Adonai your God will bless you in all that you do. (7) 19 You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to Adonai your God. *Deut 15:19 (Deut 15:19-20) (#8.522): T. Not to do work with concentrated firstborn animals / R. Not to work consecrated animals You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, †Deut 15:19 (Deut 15:19-20) (#8.523): T. Not to shear concentrated firstborn animals / R. Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before Adonai your God year by year in the place which Adonai shall choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any defect, is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Adonai your God. 22 You shall eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water.