Study Desk

"You shall not eat any detestable thing.

"And the pig, because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean for you. You shall not eat any of their flesh, nor touch their carcasses.

but anything that does not have fins and scales, you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.

"But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard,

"And all the swarming insects with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.

"You shall not eat anything which dies of itself. You may give it to the stranger who is in your town, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a stranger; for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

"You shall certainly tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes from the field every year.

"You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.

"And you may spend the money on whatever your heart desires: on oxen, sheep, wine, other strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

"Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you.

"At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and you shall deposit it in your town.

"And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the stranger, the orphan, and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

"At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.

"And this is the regulation for the release of debts: every creditor is to forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD'S release has been proclaimed.

"From a foreigner you may require it, but your hand shall forgive whatever of yours is with your brother.

"If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

but you shall fully open your hand to him, and generously lend him enough for his need in whatever he lacks.

"You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work, and in all your undertakings.

"For the poor will not cease to exist in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, 'You shall fully open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'