Revised Literal Translation

Deuteronomy 15

1At the endמִקֵּ֥ץmi.KetzH7093of everysevenשֶֽׁבַע־she.va'-H7651yearsשָׁנִ֖יםsha.NimH8141thou shalt makeתַּעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.SehH6213a releaseשְׁמִטָּֽה׃she.mi.TahH8059.

2And this isthe mannerדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of the releaseהַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ha.she.mi.TahH8059:Every creditorבַּ֙עַל֙ מַשֵּׁ֣ה יָד֔וֹba.'al ma.Sheh ya.DoH3027 H4874 H1167that lendethיַשֶּׁ֖הya.ShehH5383oughtunto his neighbourבְּרֵעֵ֑הוּbe.re.'E.huH7453shall releaseשָׁמ֗וֹטsha.MotH8058it;he shall not exactיִגֹּ֤שׂyi.GosH5065itof his neighbourרֵעֵ֙הוּ֙re.'E.huH7453,or of his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251;because it is calledקָרָ֥אka.Ra'H7121Yhwh'sלַֽיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068releaseשְׁמִטָּ֖הshe.mi.TahH8059.

3Of a foreignerהַנָּכְרִ֖יha.na.khe.RiH5237thou mayest exactתִּגֹּ֑שׂti.GosH5065it again: but thatwhich is thine with thy brotherאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251thine handיָדֶֽךָ׃ya.De.khaH3027shall releaseתַּשְׁמֵ֥טtash.MetH8058;

4Saveאֶ֕פֶס'E.fesH657when there shall be no poorאֶבְי֑וֹן'ev.YonH34among you; for Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068shall greatlyבָרֵ֤ךְva.RekhH1288blessיְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ye.va.rekh.KhaH1288thee in the landבָּאָ֕רֶץba.'A.retzH776which Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹֽתֵן־no.ten-H5414thee foran inheritanceנַחֲלָ֖הna.cha.LahH5159to possessלְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃le.rish.TahH3423it:

5Only if thou carefullyשָׁמ֣וֹעַsha.Mo.a'H8085hearkenתִּשְׁמַ֔עtish.Ma'H8085unto the voiceבְּק֖וֹלbe.KolH6963of Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,to observeלִשְׁמֹ֤רlish.MorH8104to doלַעֲשׂוֹת֙la.'a.sOtH6213all these commandmentsהַמִּצְוָ֣הha.mitz.VahH4687which I commandמְצַוְּךָ֖me.tza.ve.KhaH6680thee this dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.

6For Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei.khaH430blessethבֵּֽרַכְךָ֔be.rakh.KhaH1288thee, as he promisedדִּבֶּר־di.ber-H1696thee: and thou shalt lendוְהַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ve.ha.'a.va.TaH5670unto manyרַבִּ֗יםra.BimH7227nationsגּוֹיִ֣םgo.YimH1471,but thou shalt not borrowתַעֲבֹ֔טta.'a.VotH5670;and thou shalt reignוּמָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙u.ma.shal.TaH4910over manyרַבִּ֔יםra.BimH7227nationsבְּגוֹיִ֣םbe.go.YimH1471,but they shall not reignיִמְשֹֽׁלוּ׃ סyim.Sho.luH4910over thee.

7If there be among you a poor manאֶבְי֜וֹן'ev.YonH34of oneמֵאַחַ֤דme.'a.ChadH259of thy brethrenאַחֶ֙יךָ֙'a.Chei.khaH251within anyבְּאַחַ֣דbe.'a.ChadH259of thy gatesשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָshe.'a.Rei.khaH8179in thy landבְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔be.'Ar.tze.khaH776which Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430givethנֹתֵ֣ןno.TenH5414thee, thou shalt not hardenתְאַמֵּ֣ץte.'a.MetzH553thine heartלְבָבְךָ֗le.va.ve.KhaH3824,nor shutתִקְפֹּץ֙tik.PotzH7092thine handיָ֣דְךָ֔ya.de.khaH3027from thy poorהָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ha.'ev.YonH34brotherמֵאָחִ֖יךָme.'a.Chi.khaH251:

8But thou shalt openפָתֹ֧חַfa.To.achH6605thine handיָדְךָ֖ya.de.KhaH3027wideתִּפְתַּ֛חtif.TachH6605unto him, and shalt surelyוְהַעֲבֵט֙ve.ha.'a.VetH5670lendתַּעֲבִיטֶ֔נּוּta.'a.vi.Te.nuH5670him sufficientדֵּ֚יdeiH1767for his needמַחְסֹר֔וֹmach.so.RoH4270, in thatwhich he wantethיֶחְסַ֖רyech.SarH2637.

9Bewareהִשָּׁ֣מֶרhi.Sha.merH8104that there be not a thoughtדָבָר֩da.VarH1697in thy wickedבְלִיַּ֜עַלve.li.Ya.'alH1100heartלְבָבְךָ֨le.va.ve.KhaH3824,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,The seventhהַשֶּׁבַע֮ha.she.Va'H7651yearשְׁנַֽת־she.nat-H8141,the yearשְׁנַ֣תshe.NatH8141of releaseהַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ha.she.mi.TahH8059,is at handקָֽרְבָ֣הka.re.VahH7126;and thine eyeעֵֽינְךָ֗'ei.ne.KhaH5869be evilוְרָעָ֣הve.ra.'AhH7489against thy poorהָֽאֶבְי֔וֹןha.'ev.YonH34brotherבְּאָחִ֙יךָ֙be.'a.Chi.khaH251,and thou givestתִתֵּ֖ןti.TenH5414him nought; and he cryוְקָרָ֤אve.ka.Ra'H7121unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068against thee, and it be sinחֵֽטְא׃Chet'H2399unto thee.

10Thou shalt surelyנָת֤וֹןna.TonH5414giveתִּתֵּן֙ti.TenH5414him, and thine heartלְבָבְךָ֖le.va.ve.KhaH3824shall not be grievedH3415when thou givestבְּתִתְּךָ֣be.ti.te.KhaH5414unto him: becauseבִּגְלַ֣ל׀big.LalH1558that for this thingהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430shall blessיְבָרֶכְךָ֙ye.va.rekh.KhaH1288thee in all thy worksמַעֲשֶׂ֔ךָma.'a.Se.khaH4639,and in all that thou puttestמִשְׁלַ֥חmish.LachH4916thine handיָדֶֽךָ׃ya.De.khaH3027unto.

11For the poorאֶבְי֖וֹן'ev.YonH34shall never ceaseיֶחְדַּ֥לyech.DalH2308out ofמִקֶּ֣רֶבmi.Ke.revH7130the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776:therefore I commandמְצַוְּךָ֙me.tza.ve.KhaH6680thee, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Thou shalt openפָּ֠תֹחַPa.to.achH6605thine handיָדְךָ֜ya.de.KhaH3027wideתִּפְתַּ֨חtif.TachH6605unto thy brotherלְאָחִ֧יךָle.'a.Chi.khaH251,to thy poorלַעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָla.'a.ni.Ye.khaH6041,and to thy needyוּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ֖u.le.'ev.yo.ne.KhaH34,in thy landבְּאַרְצֶֽךָ׃ סbe.'ar.Tze.khaH776.

12Andif thy brotherאָחִ֣יךָ'a.Chi.kKhaH251,an Hebrew manהָֽעִבְרִ֗יha.'iv.RiH5680,or an Hebrew womanהָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔הha.'iv.ri.YahH5680,be soldיִמָּכֵ֨רyi.ma.KherH4376unto thee, and serveוַעֲבָֽדְךָ֖va.'a.va.de.KhaH5647thee sixשֵׁ֣שׁsheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֑יםsha.NimH8141;then in the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔תha.she.vi.'ItH7637yearוּבַשָּׁנָה֙u.va.sha.NahH8141thou shalt let him goתְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּte.shal.le.Che.nuH7971freeחָפְשִׁ֖יcha.fe.ShiH2670from thee.

13And when thou sendestתְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּte.shal.le.Che.nuH7971him out freeחָפְשִׁ֖יcha.fe.ShiH2670from thee, thou shalt not let him go awayתְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּte.shal.le.Che.nuH7971emptyרֵיקָֽם׃rei.KamH7387:

14Thou shalt furnishהַעֲנֵ֤יקha.'a.NeikH6059him liberallyתַּעֲנִיק֙ta.'a.NikH6059out of thy flockמִצֹּ֣אנְךָ֔mi.Tzo.ne.khaH6629,and out of thy floorוּמִֽגָּרְנְךָ֖u.mi.ga.re.ne.KhaH1637,and out of thy winepressוּמִיִּקְבֶ֑ךָu.mi.yik.Ve.chaH3342: of thatwherewith Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430hath blessedבֵּרַכְךָ֛be.rakh.KhaH1288thee thou shalt giveתִּתֶּן־ti.ten-H5414unto him.

15And thou shalt rememberוְזָכַרְתָּ֗ve.za.khar.TaH2142that thou wast a bondmanעֶ֤בֶד'E.vedH5650in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,And Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430redeemedוַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֖vai.yif.de.KhaH6299thee: therefore I commandמְצַוְּךָ֛me.tza.ve.KhaH6680thee this thingהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697to dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.

16And it shall be, if he sayיֹאמַ֣רyo.MarH559unto thee, I will not go awayאֵצֵ֖א'e.Tze'H3318from thee; because he lovethאֲהֵֽבְךָ֙'a.he.ve.KhaH157thee and thine houseבֵּיתֶ֔ךָbei.Te.khaH1004,because he is wellט֥וֹבTovH2895with thee;

17Then thou shalt takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֣ve.la.kach.TaH3947an aulהַמַּרְצֵ֗עַha.mar.Tze.a'H4836,and thrustוְנָתַתָּ֤הve.na.ta.TahH5414itthrough his earבְאָזְנוֹ֙ve.'a.ze.NoH241unto the doorוּבַדֶּ֔לֶתu.va.De.letH1817,and he shall be thy servantעֶ֣בֶד'E.vedH5650for everעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769.And also unto thy maidservantלַאֲמָתְךָ֖la.'a.ma.te.KhaH519thou shalt doתַּעֲשֶׂה־ta.'a.seh-H6213likewise.

18It shall not seem hardיִקְשֶׁ֣הyik.ShehH7185unto theeבְעֵינֶ֗ךָve.'ei.Ne.khaH5869,when thou sendest him awayבְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֙be.sha.le.cha.KhaH7971freeחָפְשִׁי֙cha.fe.ShiH2670from thee; for he hath been worthשְׂכַ֣רse.KharH7939a doubleמִשְׁנֶה֙mish.NehH4932hired servantשָׂכִ֔ירsa.KhirH7916to thee,in servingעֲבָֽדְךָ֖'a.va.de.KhaH5647thee sixשֵׁ֣שׁsheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֑יםsha.NimH8141:And Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430shall blessוּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙u.ve.rakh.KhaH1288thee in all that thou doestתַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃ פta.'a.SehH6213.

19All the firstlingהַבְּכ֡וֹרha.be.KhorH1060malesהַזָּכָ֔רha.za.KharH2145that comeיִוָּלֵ֨דyi.va.LedH3205of thy herdבִּבְקָרְךָ֤biv.ka.re.ChaH1241and of thy flockוּבְצֹֽאנְךָ֙u.ve.tzo.ne.KhaH6629thou shalt sanctifyתַּקְדִּ֖ישׁtak.DishH6942unto Yhwhלַיהוָ֣הla.Yah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430:thou shalt do no workתַעֲבֹד֙ta.'a.VodH5647with the firstlingבִּבְכֹ֣רbiv.KhorH1060of thy bullockשׁוֹרֶ֔ךָsho.Re.khaH7794,nor shearתָגֹ֖זta.GozH1494the firstlingבְּכ֥וֹרbe.KhorH1060of thy sheepצֹאנֶֽךָ׃tzo.Ne.khaH6629.

20Thou shalt eatתֹאכֲלֶ֙נּוּ֙to.kha.Le.nuH398itbeforeלִפְנֵי֩lif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֤יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430yearשָׁנָ֣הsha.NahH8141by yearבְשָׁנָ֔הve.sha.NahH8141in the placeבַּמָּק֖וֹםba.ma.KomH4725which Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068shall chooseיִבְחַ֣רyiv.CharH977,thou and thy householdוּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃u.vei.Te.khaH1004.

21And if there be anyblemishמ֗וּםMumH3971therein, as if it belameפִּסֵּ֙חַ֙pi.Se.achH6455,or blindעִוֵּ֔ר'i.VerH5787, or haveany illרָ֑עRa'H7451blemishמ֣וּםmumH3971,thou shalt not sacrificeתִזְבָּחֶ֔נּוּtiz.ba.Che.nuH2076it unto Yhwhלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃'e.lo.Hei.khaH430.

22Thou shalt eatתֹּאכֲלֶ֑נּוּto.kha.Le.nuH398it within thy gatesבִּשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָbish.'a.Rei.khaH8179:the uncleanהַטָּמֵ֤אha.ta.Me'H2931and the cleanוְהַטָּהוֹר֙ve.ha.ta.hOrH2889person shall eat italikeיַחְדָּ֔וyach.DavH3162,as the roebuckכַּצְּבִ֖יka.tze.ViH6643,and as the hartוְכָאַיָּֽל׃ve.kha.'ai.YalH354.

23Only thou shalt not eatתֹאכֵ֑לto.KhelH398the bloodדָּמ֖וֹda.MoH1818thereof; thou shalt pourתִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּtish.pe.Khe.nuH8210it upon the groundהָאָ֥רֶץha.'A.retzH776as waterכַּמָּֽיִם׃ פka.Ma.yimH4325.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 15