Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.

To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; ¹  he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make ²  an idol that will not fall over.

“‘If your brother becomes impoverished with regard to you so that he sells himself to you, you must not subject him to slave service. ¹ 

As for their enemies, ¹  they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress ²  and suffering.

Abandon your foolish ways ¹  so that you may live, ²  and proceed ³  in the way of understanding.”

ז (Zayin) Remember ¹  my impoverished and homeless condition, ²  which is a bitter poison. ³ 

Many times he delivered ¹  them, but they had a rebellious attitude, ²  and degraded themselves ³  by their sin.

Do not love sleep, ¹  lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that ²  you might be satisfied with food. ³ 

because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness ¹  clothes them with rags. ² 

Then ¹  after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need.

Edom ¹  says, “Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.” So the Lord who rules over all ²  responds, “They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as ³  the land of evil, the people with whom the Lord is permanently displeased.

“‘Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says to them: Look, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

I will provide you with food ¹  there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor – you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.”’

“‘If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his near redeemer is to come to you and redeem what his brother sold. ¹ 

“‘If your brother ¹  becomes impoverished and is indebted to you, ²  you must support ³  him; he must live ⁴  with you like a foreign resident. ⁵ 

“‘If a resident foreigner who is with you prospers ¹  and your brother becomes impoverished with regard to him so that ²  he sells himself to a resident foreigner who is with you or to a member ³  of a foreigner’s family,

If a fellow Israelite ¹  from one of your villages ²  in the land that the Lord your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive ³  to his impoverished condition. ⁴ 

Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude ¹  be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite ²  and you do not lend ³  him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you and you will be regarded as having sinned. ⁴