At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land The Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey The Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that The Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to The Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to him 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. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Deuteronomy 15:1, 4-5, 7-11 (NIV)
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