Study Desk

" 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave.

"‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.

He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee.

Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers.

Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors.

Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves.

Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves.

Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

" 'Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

"‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.

You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.

You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.

You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

" 'If an alien or a temporary resident among you becomes rich and one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells himself to the alien living among you or to a member of the alien's clan,

"‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner's clan,

he retains the right of redemption after he has sold himself. One of his relatives may redeem him:

they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives may redeem them:

An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in his clan may redeem him. Or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.

An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves.

He and his buyer are to count the time from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price for his release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired man for that number of years.

They and their buyer are to count the time from the year they sold themselves up to the Year of Jubilee. The price for their release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired worker for that number of years.

If many years remain, he must pay for his redemption a larger share of the price paid for him.

If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them.

If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he is to compute that and pay for his redemption accordingly.

If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly.

He is to be treated as a man hired from year to year; you must see to it that his owner does not rule over him ruthlessly.

They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly.

" 'Even if he is not redeemed in any of these ways, he and his children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee,

"‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee,

for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.