Deuteronomy 15:6

4 There will be no poor among you, however, because the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance,

5 if only you obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commandments I am giving you today.

When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised, you will lend to many nations but borrow from none; you will rule over many nations but be ruled by none.

7 If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised, you will lend to many nations but borrow from none; you will rule over many nations but be ruled by none.
KJV
For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
WEB
For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
ASV
For Jehovah thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.
DARBY
For Jehovah thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee; and thou shalt lend on pledge to many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.
BLB
For YHWH your God will bless you as He has spoken to you, and you shall lend to many nations, and you shall not borrow; and you shall reign over many nations, and over you they shall not reign.
ÅB
for Herren din Gud vil da velsigne deg, slik som han har tilsagt deg, og du skal låne til mange folk, men selv skal du ikke trenge til å låne av noen, og du skal herske over mange folk, men de skal ikke herske over deg.
OTB
Herren din Gud vil velsigne deg slik Han har lovet, og du skal låne til mange nasjoner, men ikke låne selv; du skal herske over mange nasjoner, men de skal ikke herske over deg.
B1930
for Herren din Gud vil da visselig velsigne dig, således som han har tilsagt dig, og du skal låne til mange folk, men selv skal du ikke trenge til å låne av nogen, og du skal herske over mange folk, men de skal ikke herske over dig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 28:12–13

    The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.

    Read in context
  • Luke 6:35

    But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 22:7

    The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 4:21

    And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 9:27

    So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 37:21

    The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 4:20

    And mighty kings have ruled over Jerusalem and exercised authority over the whole region west of the Euphrates; and tribute, duty, and toll were paid to them.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 112:5

    It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.

    Read in context