39 (A)If thy brother also that dwelleth by thee be impoverished, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond servant,

40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner he shall be with thee: he shall serve thee unto the year of Jubilee.

41 Then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return:

42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: they shall not [a]be sold as bondmen are sold.

43 (B)Thou shalt not rule over him cruelly, but shalt fear thy God.

44 Thy bond servant also, and thy bondmaid, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you: of them shall ye buy servants and maids.

45 And moreover, of the children of the strangers that are sojourners among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you which they begat in your land: these shall be your [b]possession.

46 So ye shall take them, as inheritance for your children after you to possess them by inheritance, ye shall use their labors forever: but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule one over another with cruelty.

47 ¶ If a sojourner or a stranger dwelling by thee [c]get riches, and thy brother by him be impoverished, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner dwelling by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family,

48 After that he is sold, he may be bought out: one of his brethren may buy him out.

49 Or his uncle, or his uncle’s son may buy him out, or any of the kindred of his flesh among his family, may redeem him: either if he can [d]get so much, he may buy himself out.

50 Then he shall reckon with his buyer from the year that he was sold to him, unto the year of Jubilee: and the money of his sale shall be according to the number of [e]years: according to the time of an hired servant shall he be with him.

51 If there be many years behind, according to them shall he give again for his deliverance, of the money that he was bought for.

52 If there remain but few years unto the year of Jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according to his years give again for his redemption.

53 He shall be with him year by year as an hired servant: he shall not rule cruelly over him in thy [f]sight.

54 And if he be not redeemed thus, he shall go out in the year of Jubilee, he, and his children with him.

55 For unto me the children of Israel are servants, they are my servants whom I have brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 25:42 Unto perpetual servitude.
  2. Leviticus 25:45 For they shall not be bought out at the Jubilee.
  3. Leviticus 25:47 Hebrew, his hand take hold.
  4. Leviticus 25:49 If he be able.
  5. Leviticus 25:50 Which remain yet to the Jubilee.
  6. Leviticus 25:53 Thou shalt not suffer him to entreat him rigorously, if thou know it.

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