Deuteronomy 15:1-11

1“1At the end of every seven years you shall 2grant a release of debts. 2And this is the regulation for the release of debts: every creditor is to forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require it of his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed. 33From a foreigner you may require it, but your hand shall 4forgive whatever of yours is with your brother. 4However, there will be no poor among you, since 5the Lord will certainly 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 6follow carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today. 67For the Lord your God will have blessed you just 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 8a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your 9towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, 10you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; 8but 11you shall fully open your hand to him, and generously lend him enough for his need in whatever he lacks. 9Be careful that there is no mean-spirited 12thought in your heart, 13such as, ‘14The seventh year, the year of release of debts, is near,’ and 15your eye is malicious toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he 16may cry out 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 17grudging when you give to him, because 18for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work, and in all 19your undertakings. 1120For the poor will not cease 21to exist in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall fully open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’