Deuteronomy 15:8-11

15:8 Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend ¹  him whatever he needs. ²  15:9 Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude ³  be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite ⁴  and you do not lend ⁵  him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you and you will be regarded as having sinned. ⁶  15:10 You must by all means lend ⁷  to him and not be upset by doing it, ⁸  for because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. 15:11 There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open ⁹  your hand to your fellow Israelites ¹⁰  who are needy and poor in your land.

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¹ tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute before both verbs. The translation indicates the emphasis with the words “be sure to” and “generously,” respectively.

² tn Heb “whatever his need that he needs for himself.” This redundant expression has been simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn Heb “your eye.”

⁴ tn Heb “your needy brother.”

⁵ tn Heb “give” (likewise in v. 10).

⁶ tn Heb “it will be a sin to you.”

⁷ tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “by all means.”

⁸ tc Heb “your heart must not be grieved in giving to him.” The LXX and Orig add, “you shall surely lend to him sufficient for his need,” a suggestion based on the same basic idea in v. 8. Such slavish adherence to stock phrases is without warrant in most cases, and certainly here.

⁹ tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “make sure.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “your brother.”