12. If your kin, a Hebrew man or woman, sells himself or herself to you, he or she is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year you shall release him or her as a free person.
13. When you release a male from your service, as a free person, you shall not send him away empty-handed,
14. but shall weigh him down with gifts from your flock and threshing floor and wine press; as the Lord, your God, has blessed you, so you shall give to him.
15. For remember that you too were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the Lord, your God, redeemed you. That is why I am giving you this command today.
16. But if he says to you, “I do not wish to leave you,” because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you,
17. you shall take an awl and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. Your female slave, also, you shall treat in the same way.
18. Do not be reluctant when you let them go free, since the service they have given you for six years was worth twice a hired laborer’s salary; and the Lord, your God, will bless you in everything you do.
19. You shall consecrate to the Lord, your God, every male firstling born in your herd and in your flock. You shall not work the firstlings of your cattle, nor shear the firstlings of your flock.
20. In the presence of the Lord, your God, you shall eat them year after year, you and your household, in the place that the Lord will choose.
21. But if a firstling has any defect, lameness or blindness, any such serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord, your God,
22. but in your own communities you may eat it, the unclean and the clean eating it together, as you would a gazelle or a deer.
23. Only, you must not eat of its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.