15. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the Lord your God saved you. That is why I am commanding this to you today.
16. But if your slave says to you, “I don’t want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and has a good life with you,
17. stick an awl through his ear into the door; he will be your slave for life. Also do this to a female slave.
18. Do not think of it as a hard thing when you let your slaves go free. After all, they served you six years and did twice the work of a hired person. The Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.
19. Save all the first male animals born to your herds and flocks. They are for the Lord your God. Do not work the first calf born to your oxen, and do not cut off the wool from the first lamb born to your sheep.
20. Each year you and your family are to eat these animals in the presence of the Lord your God, in the place he will choose to be worshiped.
21. If an animal is crippled or blind or has something else wrong, do not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.
22. But you may eat that animal in your own town. Both clean and unclean people may eat it, as they would eat a gazelle or a deer.
23. But don’t eat its blood; pour it out on the ground like water.