Deuteronomy

Chapter 15

Phonetic (Hebrew): miqּe֥tz shsheֽba'-shshani֖ym tּa'ashse֥h shshemitּaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.

מִקֵּ֥ץ שֶֽׁבַע־שָׁנִ֖ים תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה שְׁמִטָּֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vezeh֮ dּeba֣r hashshּemitּah֒ shsham֗ot kּal-bּa֨'al֙ mashshּe֣h yad֔o 'ashshe֥r yashshּe֖h bּere'e֑hu loֽ'-yigּo֤shs 'et-re'e֨hu֙ ve'et-'achi֔yv kּiֽy-qara֥ shshemitּa֖h laֽyhvaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the LORD's time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed.

וְזֶה֮ דְּבַ֣ר הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ שָׁמ֗וֹט כָּל־בַּ֨עַל֙ מַשֵּׁ֣ה יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַשֶּׁ֖ה בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ לֹֽא־יִגֹּ֤שׂ אֶת־רֵעֵ֨הוּ֙ וְאֶת־אָחִ֔יו כִּֽי־קָרָ֥א שְׁמִטָּ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): et-hanּakeri֖y tּigּo֑shs va'ashshe֨r yiheye֥h leka֛ 'et-'achi֖yka tּashsheme֥t yadeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you.

אֶת־הַנָּכְרִ֖י תִּגֹּ֑שׂ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ תַּשְׁמֵ֥ט יָדֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): e֕pes kּi֛y lo֥ yiֽheyeh-bּeka֖ 'ebey֑on kּiֽy-bare֤ke yebaֽrekeka֙ yehva֔h bּa'a֕retz 'ashsher֙ yehva֣h 'elohe֔yka noֽten-leka֥ nachala֖h lerishshetּaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,

אֶ֕פֶס כִּ֛י לֹ֥א יִֽהְיֶה־בְּךָ֖ אֶבְי֑וֹן כִּֽי־בָרֵ֤ךְ יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה בָּאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹֽתֵן־לְךָ֥ נַחֲלָ֖ה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ra֚q 'im-shsham֣o'a tּishshema֔ bּeq֖ol yehva֣h 'elohe֑yka lishshemo֤r la'ashsot֙ 'et-kּal-hamּitzeva֣h hazּo֔'t 'ashshe֛r 'anoki֥y metzaueka֖ hayּֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.

רַ֚ק אִם־שָׁמ֣וֹעַ תִּשְׁמַ֔ע בְּק֖וֹל יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-yehva֤h 'elohe֨yka֙ bּeֽrakeka֔ kּa'ashshe֖r dּibּer-la֑ke vehֽa'abatetּa֞ gּoyi֣m rabּi֗ym ve'atּah֙ lo֣ ta'abo֔t umaֽshshaletּa֙ bּegoyi֣m rabּi֔ym ubeka֖ lo֥ yimeshshoֽlu׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.

כִּֽי־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ בֵּֽרַכְךָ֔ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְהַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֗ים וְאַתָּה֙ לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֔ט וּמָֽשַׁלְתָּ֙ בְּגוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֔ים וּבְךָ֖ לֹ֥א יִמְשֹֽׁלוּ׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-yiheyeh֩ beka֨ 'ebey֜on me'acha֤d 'ache֨yka֙ bּe'acha֣d shshe'are֔yka bּe'a֨retzeka֔ 'ashsher-yehva֥h 'elohe֖yka note֣n la֑ke lo֧ te'amּe֣tz 'et-lebabeka֗ velo֤ tiqepּotz֙ 'et-ya֣deka֔ me'achi֖yka ha'ebeyֽon׃

Edified Edition (EDE)If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tight-fisted toward them.

כִּֽי־יִהְיֶה֩ בְךָ֨ אֶבְי֜וֹן מֵאַחַ֤ד אַחֶ֨יךָ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ בְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֣ן לָ֑ךְ לֹ֧א תְאַמֵּ֣ץ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֗ וְלֹ֤א תִקְפֹּץ֙ אֶת־יָ֣דְךָ֔ מֵאָחִ֖יךָ הָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-pato֧cha tּipetּa֛ch 'et-yadeka֖ l֑o veha'abet֙ tּa'abiyte֔nּu dּe֚y machesor֔o 'ashshe֥r yechesa֖r lֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Rather, be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need.

כִּֽי־פָתֹ֧חַ תִּפְתַּ֛ח אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ ל֑וֹ וְהַעֲבֵט֙ תַּעֲבִיטֶ֔נּוּ דֵּ֚י מַחְסֹר֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֶחְסַ֖ר לֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): hishshּa֣mer leka֡ pּen-yiheye֣h dabar֩ 'im-lebabeka֨ beliyּa֜'al le'mo֗r qaֽreba֣h shshenaֽt-hashshּeba'֮ shshena֣t hashshּemitּah֒ vera'a֣h 'ֽeyneka֗ bּe'achi֨yka֙ haֽ'ebey֔on velo֥ titּe֖n l֑o veqara֤ 'ale֨yka֙ 'el-yehva֔h vehaya֥h beka֖ cheֽte'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will 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.

הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֡ פֶּן־יִהְיֶ֣ה דָבָר֩ עִם־לְבָבְךָ֨ בְלִיַּ֜עַל לֵאמֹ֗ר קָֽרְבָ֣ה שְׁנַֽת־הַשֶּׁבַע֮ שְׁנַ֣ת הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ וְרָעָ֣ה עֵֽינְךָ֗ בְּאָחִ֨יךָ֙ הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹן וְלֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן ל֑וֹ וְקָרָ֤א עָלֶ֨יךָ֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): nat֤on tּitּen֙ l֔o velo'-yera֥ lebabeka֖ bּetitּeka֣ l֑o kּi֞y bּigela֣l ׀ hadּaba֣r hazּe֗h yebarekeka֙ yehva֣h 'elohe֔yka bּekaֽl-ma'ashse֔ka ubeko֖l mishshela֥ch yadeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

נָת֤וֹן תִּתֵּן֙ ל֔וֹ וְלֹא־יֵרַ֥ע לְבָבְךָ֖ בְּתִתְּךָ֣ ל֑וֹ כִּ֞י בִּגְלַ֣ל ׀ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה יְבָרֶכְךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכָֽל־מַעֲשֶׂ֔ךָ וּבְכֹ֖ל מִשְׁלַ֥ח יָדֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּi֛y lo'-yechedּa֥l 'ebey֖on miqּe֣reb ha'a֑retz 'al-kּe֞n 'anoki֤y metzaueka֙ le'mo֔r pּa֠tocha tּipetּa֨ch 'et-yadeka֜ le'achi֧yka la'aniyּe֛ka ule'ebeyoneka֖ bּe'aretzeֽka׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

כִּ֛י לֹא־יֶחְדַּ֥ל אֶבְי֖וֹן מִקֶּ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פָּ֠תֹחַ תִּפְתַּ֨ח אֶת־יָדְךָ֜ לְאָחִ֧יךָ לַעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ וּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ בְּאַרְצֶֽךָ׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiֽy-yimּake֨r leka֜ 'achi֣yka haֽ'iberi֗y '֚o haֽ'iberiyּa֔h va'abaֽdeka֖ shshe֣shsh shshani֑ym ubashshּanah֙ hashshּebiy'i֔t tּeshshalּeche֥nּu chapeshshi֖y me'imּaֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)If any of your people, Hebrew men or women, sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free.

כִּֽי־יִמָּכֵ֨ר לְךָ֜ אָחִ֣יךָ הָֽעִבְרִ֗י א֚וֹ הָֽעִבְרִיָּ֔ה וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבַשָּׁנָה֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תְּשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵעִמָּֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vekiֽy-teshshalּeche֥nּu chapeshshi֖y meֽ'imּa֑ke lo֥ teshshalּeche֖nּu reyqaֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed.

וְכִֽי־תְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ חָפְשִׁ֖י מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ לֹ֥א תְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ רֵיקָֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ha'ane֤yq tּa'aniyq֙ l֔o mitzּo֣'neka֔ umiֽgּareneka֖ umiyּiqebe֑ka 'ashshe֧r bּerakeka֛ yehva֥h 'elohe֖yka tּitּen-lֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the LORD your God has blessed you.

הַעֲנֵ֤יק תַּעֲנִיק֙ ל֔וֹ מִצֹּ֣אנְךָ֔ וּמִֽגָּרְנְךָ֖ וּמִיִּקְבֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר בֵּרַכְךָ֛ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ תִּתֶּן־לֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vezakaretּa֗ kּi֣y 'e֤bed hayi֨yta֙ bּe'e֣retz mitzera֔yim vaֽyּipedּeka֖ yehva֣h 'elohe֑yka 'al-kּe֞n 'anoki֧y metzaueka֛ 'et-hadּaba֥r hazּe֖h hayּֽom׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

וְזָכַרְתָּ֗ כִּ֣י עֶ֤בֶד הָיִ֨יתָ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehayah֙ kּiֽy-yo'ma֣r 'ele֔yka lo֥ 'etze֖ me'imּa֑ke kּi֤y 'aheֽbeka֙ ve'et-bּeyte֔ka kּiy-t֥ob l֖o 'imּaֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But if your servant says to you, "I do not want to leave you," because he loves you and your family and is well off with you,

וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־יֹאמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֤י אֲהֵֽבְךָ֙ וְאֶת־בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ כִּי־ט֥וֹב ל֖וֹ עִמָּֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): velaqachetּa֣ 'et-hamּaretze֗'a venatatּa֤h be'azeno֙ ubadּe֔let vehaya֥h leka֖ 'e֣bed 'ola֑m ve'a֥p la'amateka֖ tּa'ashseh-kּeֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.

וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־הַמַּרְצֵ֗עַ וְנָתַתָּ֤ה בְאָזְנוֹ֙ וּבַדֶּ֔לֶת וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֖ עֶ֣בֶד עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ תַּעֲשֶׂה־כֵּֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): lo'-yiqeshshe֣h be'eyne֗ka bּeshshalּeֽchaka֙ 'ot֤o chapeshshiy֙ meֽ'imּa֔ke kּi֗y mishsheneh֙ shseka֣r shsaki֔yr 'abֽadeka֖ shshe֣shsh shshani֑ym ubeֽrakeka֙ yehva֣h 'elohe֔yka bּeko֖l 'ashshe֥r tּa'ashseֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

לֹא־יִקְשֶׁ֣ה בְעֵינֶ֗ךָ בְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֙ אֹת֤וֹ חָפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעִמָּ֔ךְ כִּ֗י מִשְׁנֶה֙ שְׂכַ֣ר שָׂכִ֔יר עֲבָֽדְךָ֖ שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּaֽl-habּek֡or 'ashsher֩ yiuale֨d bּibeqareka֤ ubetzoֽ'neka֙ hazּaka֔r tּaqedּi֖yshsh layhva֣h 'elohe֑yka lo֤ ta'abod֙ bּibeko֣r shshore֔ka velo֥ tago֖z bּek֥or tzo'neֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your cows to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep.

כָּֽל־הַבְּכ֡וֹר אֲשֶׁר֩ יִוָּלֵ֨ד בִּבְקָרְךָ֤ וּבְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר תַּקְדִּ֖ישׁ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹ֤א תַעֲבֹד֙ בִּבְכֹ֣ר שׁוֹרֶ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א תָגֹ֖ז בְּכ֥וֹר צֹאנֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): lipeney֩ yehva֨h 'elohe֤yka to'kale֨nּu֙ shshana֣h beshshana֔h bּamּaq֖om 'ashsher-yibecha֣r yehva֑h 'atּa֖h ubeyteֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose.

לִפְנֵי֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֤יךָ תֹאכֲלֶ֨נּוּ֙ שָׁנָ֣ה בְשָׁנָ֔ה בַּמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אַתָּ֖ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vekiֽy-yiheye֨h b֜o m֗um pּisּe֨cha֙ '֣o 'iue֔r kּo֖l m֣um ra֑ lo֣ tizebּache֔nּu layhva֖h 'eloheֽyka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)If an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

וְכִֽי־יִהְיֶ֨ה ב֜וֹ מ֗וּם פִּסֵּ֨חַ֙ א֣וֹ עִוֵּ֔ר כֹּ֖ל מ֣וּם רָ֑ע לֹ֣א תִזְבָּחֶ֔נּוּ לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): bּishshe'are֖yka tּo'kale֑nּu hatּame֤ vehatּahor֙ yachedּa֔v kּatzּebi֖y veka'ayּaֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)You are to eat it in your own towns. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it, as if it were gazelle or deer.

בִּשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ תֹּאכֲלֶ֑נּוּ הַטָּמֵ֤א וְהַטָּהוֹר֙ יַחְדָּ֔ו כַּצְּבִ֖י וְכָאַיָּֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ra֥q 'et-dּam֖o lo֣ to'ke֑l 'al-ha'a֥retz tּishshepּeke֖nּu kּamּaֽyim׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.

רַ֥ק אֶת־דָּמ֖וֹ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑ל עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃פ