Leviticus 25:39-46

Contemporary English Version

^39 (A) Suppose some of your people become so poor that they have to sell themselves and become your slaves. ⁴⁰ Then you must treat them as servants, rather than as slaves. And in the Year of Celebration they are to be set free, ⁴¹ so they and their children may return home to their families and property. ⁴² I brought them out of Egypt to be my servants, not to be sold as slaves. ⁴³ So obey me, and don't be cruel to the poor.

⁴⁴ If you want slaves, buy them from other nations ⁴⁵ or from the foreigners who live in your own country, and make them your property. ⁴⁶ You can own them, and even leave them to your children when you die, but do not make slaves of your own people or be cruel to them.