“If there is (A)a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your [a]towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, (B)you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but (C)you shall fully open your hand to him, and generously lend him enough for his need in whatever he lacks. Be careful that there is no mean-spirited [b]thought in your heart, [c]such as, ‘(D)The seventh year, the year of release of debts, is near,’ and (E)your eye is malicious toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he (F)may cry out to the Lord against you, and it will be a sin in you. 10 You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be [d]grudging when you give to him, because (G)for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work, and in all [e]your undertakings. 11 (H)For the poor will not cease [f]to 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.’

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 15:7 Lit gates
  2. Deuteronomy 15:9 Lit word
  3. Deuteronomy 15:9 Lit saying
  4. Deuteronomy 15:10 Lit evil
  5. Deuteronomy 15:10 Lit the putting forth of your hand
  6. Deuteronomy 15:11 Lit from the midst of

If anyone is poor(A) 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(B) toward them. Rather, be openhanded(C) and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,(D) is near,” so that you do not show ill will(E) 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.(F) 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;(G) then because of this the Lord your God will bless(H) you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people(I) in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.(J)

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14 (A)You shall not exploit a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your strangers who are in your land in your [a]towns. 15 (B)You shall give him his wages on his day [b]before the sun sets—for he is poor and sets his [c]heart on it—so that (C)he does not cry out against you to the Lord, and it becomes a sin in you.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 24:14 Lit gates
  2. Deuteronomy 24:15 Lit that the sun shall not go down on it
  3. Deuteronomy 24:15 Lit soul

14 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.(A) 15 Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor(B) and are counting on it.(C) Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.(D)

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