Help For The Poor

Leviticus 25:35–55
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The Lord said: If any of your people become poor and unable to support themselves, you must help them, just as you are supposed to help foreigners who live among you (v. 35). Don’t take advantage of them by charging any kind of interest or selling them food for profit. Instead, honor me by letting them stay where they now live (vv. 36-37). Remember, I am the Lord your God! I rescued you from Egypt and gave you the land of Canaan, so that I would be your God (v. 38). Suppose some of your people become so poor that they have to sell themselves and become your slaves (v. 39). Then you must treat them as servants, rather than as slaves(v. 40). And in the Year of Celebration they are to be set free, so they and their children may return home to their families and property (v. 41). I brought them out of Egypt to be my servants, not to be sold as slaves (v. 42). So obey me, and don’t be cruel to the poor (v. 43). If you want slaves, buy them from other nations or from the foreigners who live in your own country, and make them your property (vv. 44-45).

You can own them, and even leave them to your children when you die, but do not make slaves of your own people or be cruel to them (v. 46). Even if some of you Israelites become so much in debt that you must sell yourselves to foreigners in your country, you still have the right to be set free by a relative, such as a brother or uncle or cousin, or some other family member (vv. 47-49). In fact, if you ever get enough money, you may buy your own freedom by paying your owner for the number of years you would still be a slavebefore the next Year of Celebration (v. 50). The longer the time until then, the more you will have to pay (vv. 51-52). And even while you are the slaves of foreigners in your own country, your people must make sure that you are not mistreated (v. 53). If you cannot gain your freedom in any of these ways, both you and your children will still be set free in the Year of Celebration (v. 54). People of Israel, I am the Lord your God, and I brought you out of Egypt to be my own servants (v. 55).

Application

I must never knowingly take advantage of the poor and especially child or slave labor.