Generosity in Lending and Giving
When a poor brother is found in the land, Israel must not harden the heart or close the hand. Instead, the hand is to open and lend whatever is needed.
I7f there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. 8Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.
No one is to resent lending because the year of release is near, since withholding help becomes sin before the LORD. Generous giving brings blessing, and the enduring presence of the poor keeps this command always before the people.
9Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. 10Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand. 11For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.