11 Poor persons will never disappear from the earth. That’s why I’m giving you this command: you must open your hand generously to your fellow Israelites, to the needy among you, and to the poor who live with you in your land.
12 If any of your fellow Hebrews, male or female, sell themselves into your service, they can work for you for six years, but in the seventh year you must set them free from your service.
13 Furthermore, when you set them free from your service, you must not let them go empty-handed.
14 Instead, provide for them fully from your flock, food, and wine. You must give to them from that with which the Lord your God has blessed you.
15 Remember how each of you were slaves in Egypt and how the Lord your God saved you. That’s why I am commanding you to do this right now. (
16 Now if your male servant says to you: "I don’t want to leave your service" because he loves you and your family and because life is good for him in your service,
17 then you may take a needle and pierce his ear with it into the doorframe. From that point on, he will be your permanent servant. Do the same thing for female servants.)