Old Testament

New Testament

Leviticus 25:32-50 Good News Bible Catholic Edition (GNBDK)

32. However, Levites have the right to buy back at any time their property in the cities assigned to them.

33. If a house in one of these cities is sold by a Levite and is not bought back, it must be returned in the Year of Restoration, because the houses which the Levites own in their cities are their permanent property among the people of Israel.

34. But the pasture land round the Levite cities shall never be sold; it is their property for ever.

35. If a fellow-Israelite living near you becomes poor and cannot support himself or herself, you must provide for them as you would for hired servants, so that they can continue to live near you.

36. Do not charge them any interest, but obey God and let your fellow-Israelites live near you.

37. Do not make them pay interest on the money you lend them, and do not make a profit on the food you sell them.

38. This is the command of the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt in order to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

39. If a fellow-Israelite living near you becomes so poor that he sells himself to you as a slave, you shall not make him do the work of a slave.

40. He shall stay with you as a hired servant and serve you until the next Year of Restoration.

41. At that time he and his children shall leave you and return to his family and to the property of his ancestors.

42. The people of Israel are the Lord's slaves, and he brought them out of Egypt; they must not be sold into slavery.

43. Do not treat them harshly, but obey your God.

44. If you need slaves, you may buy them from the nations round you.

45. You may also buy the children of the foreigners who are living among you. Such children born in your land may become your property,

46. and you may leave them as an inheritance to your sons, whom they must serve as long as they live. But you must not treat any of your fellow-Israelites harshly.

47. Suppose a foreigner living with you becomes rich, while a fellow-Israelite becomes poor and sells himself as a slave to that foreigner or to a member of his family.

48. After he is sold, he still has the right to be bought back. One of his brothers

49. or his uncle or his cousin or another of his close relatives may buy him back; or if he himself earns enough, he may buy his own freedom.

50. He must consult the one who bought him, and they must count the years from the time he sold himself until the next Year of Restoration and must set the price for his release on the basis of the wages paid to a hired servant.

Read complete chapter Leviticus 25