The Year of the Lord’s Favor

Freedom for Slaves

⁸ The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people^(A) in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom^(B) for the slaves.

¹³ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors^(A) when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.^(B) I said,

¹⁵ Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people.^(A) You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name.^(B)

¹⁷ “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you,^(A) declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague^(B) and famine.^(C) I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.^(D)

¹⁷ If, however, he makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it until the year of freedom;^(A) then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons only; it is theirs.