39. 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.
47. Even if some of you Israelites become so much in debt that you must sell yourselves to foreigners in your country,