“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, (A)you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but (B)you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your (C)eye look grudgingly[a] on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he (D)cry to the Lord against you, and (E)you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and (F)your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because (G)for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For (H)there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, (I)‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 15:9 Or be evil; also verse 10

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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