The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Deuteronomy 15

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Deuteronomy chapter 15 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.” — the complete text of all 23 verses is below, free to read online.

1At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

2And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbour; he shall not exact it of his neighbour and his brother; because HaShem'S release hath been proclaimed.

3Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it; but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release.

4Howbeit there shall be no needy among you--for HaShem will surely bless thee in the land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it--

5if only thou diligently hearken unto the voice of HaShem thy G-d, to observe to do all this commandment which I command thee this day.

6For HaShem thy G-d will bless thee, as He promised thee; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.

7If there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, in thy land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother;

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

9Beware that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying: 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand'; and thine eye be evil against thy needy brother, and thou give him nought; and he cry unto HaShem against thee, and it be sin in thee.

10Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing HaShem thy G-d will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.

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

12If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, he shall serve thee six years; and in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

13And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty;

14thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy threshing-floor, and out of thy winepress; of that wherewith HaShem thy G-d hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.

15And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and HaShem thy G-d redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing to-day.

16And it shall be, if he say unto thee: 'I will not go out from thee'; because he loveth thee and thy house, because he fareth well with thee;

17then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear and into the door, and he shall be thy bondman for ever. And also unto thy bondwoman thou shalt do likewise.

18It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou lettest him go free from thee; for to the double of the hire of a hireling hath he served thee six years; and HaShem thy G-d will bless thee in all that thou doest.

19All the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto HaShem thy G-d; thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thine ox, nor shear the firstling of thy flock.

20Thou shalt eat it before HaShem thy G-d year by year in the place which HaShem shall choose, thou and thy household.

21And if there be any blemish therein, lameness, or blindness, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto HaShem thy G-d.

22Thou shalt eat it within thy gates; the unclean and the clean may eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart.

23Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.

23 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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