"Ifthere is a poormanwith you, oneof your brothers,in anyof your townsin your landwhichthe LORDyour Godis givingyou, you shall not hardenyour heart,norcloseyour handfrom your poorbrother;
Now there was a greatoutcryof the peopleand of their wivesagainsttheir Jewishbrothers.
Thereforethe Jewsof the ruralareas,who livein the ruraltowns,makethe fourteenthdayof the monthAdar[a] holidayfor rejoicingand feastingand sendingportions[of food] to oneanother.
because on those daysthe Jewsridthemselvesof their enemies,and [it was a] monthwhichwas turnedfor them from sorrowinto gladnessand from mourninginto a holiday;that they should makethem daysof feastingand rejoicingand sendingportions[of food] to oneanotherand giftsto the poor.
"Ifyou lendmoneyto My people,to the pooramongyou, you are not to actas a creditorto him; you shall not chargehim interest.
One who is graciousto a poormanlendsto the LORD,And He will repayhim for his gooddeed.
He who shutshis earto the cryof the poorWill alsocryhimselfand not be answered.
And if you giveyourselfto the hungryAnd satisfythe desireof the afflicted,Then your lightwill risein darknessAnd your gloom[will become] like midday.
Now in casea countrymanof yours becomespoorand his meanswith regardto you falter,then you are to sustainhim, like a strangeror a sojourner,that he may livewith you.
"But he was unwillingand wentand threwhim in prisonuntilhe should pay backwhatwas owed.
"Giveto him who asksof you, and do not turn awayfrom him who wantsto borrowfrom you.
"For the poorwill nevercease[to be] in the land;thereforeI commandyou, saying,'You shall freelyopenyour handto your brother,to your needyand poorin your land.'
"Bewarethat there is nobasethoughtin your heart,saying,The seventhyear,the yearof remission,is near,'and your eyeis hostiletoward your poorbrother,and you givehim nothing;then he may cryto the LORDagainstyou, and it will be a sinin you.
"You shall not oppressa hiredservant[who is] poorand needy,whether[he is] one of your countrymenorone of your alienswhois in your landin your towns.
