1. The Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai. He said,
2. “Tell the people of Israel this: ‘I will give you land. When you enter it, let it have a special time of rest. This will be to honor the Lord.
3. You may plant seed in your field for six years. You may trim your vineyards for six years and bring in their fruits.
4. But during the seventh year, you must let the land rest. This will be a special time to honor the Lord. You must not plant seed in your field or trim your vineyards.
5. You must not cut the crops that grow by themselves after harvest. You must not gather the grapes from your vines that are not trimmed. The land will have a year of rest.
6. “‘You may eat whatever the land produces during that year of rest. It will be food for your men and women servants. It will be food for your hired workers and the foreigners living in your country.
7. It will also be food for your cattle and the wild animals of your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.
8. “‘Count off seven groups of 7 years. This will be 49 years. During that time there will be 7 years of rest for the land.