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Deuteronomy 24:14-15

 

דברים כד: יד-טו

Original Text:

לֹא תַעֲשֹׁק שָׂכִיר עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מֵאַחֶיךָ אוֹ מִגֵּרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בְּאַרְצְךָ בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
בְּיוֹמוֹ תִתֵּן שְׂכָרוֹ וְלֹא תָבוֹא עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ כִּי עָנִי הוּא וְאֵלָיו הוּא נֹשֵׂא אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ וְלֹא יִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ אֶל ה' וְהָיָה בְךָ חֵטְא:

Translation:

You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers, or one of the strangers who are in your land inside your gates;
At his day you shall give him his wages, nor shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and his life depends upon it; lest he cry against you to the Lord and it be a sin for you. [translation by Artscroll, adapted]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. To whom do these rules apply?
2. What assumptions are made about the various players in the text?
3. Why is it so crucial that the worker is paid each day?
3. How does the poor person's crying cause a sin upon the employer? If the poor person does not cry out is the employer free of sin?

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Related Texts:
Deuteronomy 24:14-15
Related Sourcesheets:Labor Day, 2009, Jewish Texts on Labor Law [AJWS], Jewish Perspectives on Trade Justice, Trade Justice: Jewish Sources and Discussion Question, Passover: Slavery, Freedom and Migration

Submitted By

Uri LTzedek

Comments on this Text




  • What is the text actual saying? (Do not interpret, just describe.)
  • What is the underlying meaning of the text? (Your interpretation.)
  • If the text seems straightforward or obvious, what do you think could have been the catalyst to write this?
  • How would this text be translated today?  How could you take the essence of what is written and apply it to a company today?
  • Apply the text to thinking about immigrants (legal and not legal) in the United States.  How would this apply to them?
  • By Hillel at 06/29/2009 - 11:45