< 申命記 15 >
At the end of every seven years you shall make a release.
2 豁免的方式是這樣:債主應把借與近人的一切,全部豁免,不應再向近人或兄弟追還,因為已為光榮上主宣佈了豁免。
This is the way of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because the LORD's release has been proclaimed.
Of a foreigner you may exact it: but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.
4 其實,在你中間不會有窮人,因為在你的天主賜給你作為產業的地上,上主必豐厚地祝福你,
However there shall be no poor with you; (for the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it; )
5 只要你聽從上主你天主的話,謹守遵行我今日吩咐你的這一切誡命。
if only you diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you this day.
6 因為你的天主必照他說的,祝福你:你要借給許多民族,而你卻不需要借貸;你要統治許多民族,但他們卻不會統治你。
For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you: and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
7 如果在上主你的天主賜給你的地內的一座城裏,在你中間有了一個窮人,又是你的兄弟,對這窮苦的兄弟,不可心硬,不可袖手旁觀,
If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks.
9 你應提防,不要心生惡念說:「第七年的豁免年快到了! 」就冷眼對待你窮苦的兄弟,不借給他什麼。如果他呼求上主反對你,你應負罪。
Be careful lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, "The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand"; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to the LORD against you, and it be sin to you.
10 你應盡量供給他;供給他時,不應傷心,因為為了這事,上主你的天主必在你的一切工作,和你著手所作的一切事上祝福你。
You must surely give to him, and your heart is not to be grieved when you give to him; because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to.
11 既然在這地上總少不了窮人,為此我吩咐你說:對你地區內困苦貧窮兄弟,你應大方地伸出援助之手。
For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.
12 你的兄弟,無論是希伯來男人,或是希伯來女人,若賣身與你,只應服事你六年,在第七年上,你應使他自由。
If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you, and serves you six years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty:
14 應由你羊群中,打禾場上,榨酒池內,取一些厚厚地酬報他,照上主你的天主祝福你的,分給他。
you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress, in proportion as the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
15 應記得你在埃及地也曾做過奴隸,上主你的天主將你贖回。為此我今日特將這事吩咐你。
You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today.
16 倘若他對你說:「我不願離開你,」因為他愛你和你的家庭,又喜歡同你在一起,
It shall be, if he tells you, "I will not go out from you"; because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you;
17 你就拿錐子在門上把他耳朵刺透,他便永遠成了你的奴僕;對你的婢女也該這樣做。
then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.
18 使他自由的時候,你不應感到不滿,因為他六年給你服務,應得傭工的雙倍工資,並且上主你的天主也必在你所做的事業上祝福你。
It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for to the double of the hire of a hireling has he served you six years: and the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.
19 你的牛羊中所生的,凡是頭胎雄性的,都應祝聖與上主你的天主;你不可使頭胎公牛耕作,也不可剪頭胎公羊的毛。
All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock you shall sanctify to the LORD your God: you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
20 你和你的家屬,年年在上主所選的地方,在上主你的天主面前,吃這些首生的牲畜。
You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, you and your household.
21 但如果這牲畜有殘缺、或腿瘸、或瞎眼、或有任何缺點、你不可祭獻給上主你的天主,
If it has any blemish, is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
22 可在家裏吃,不潔與潔淨的,人都可以吃,如吃羚羊和鹿一樣;
You shall eat it within your gates: the unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the deer.
Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground as water.