This verse refers to the other case, of the slave who did leave the household, and is now a free person. Good News Translation shows this, with “when you set slaves free.” We may also say something like “In the case of slaves you set free, do not be resentful [or, complain].”

It shall not seem hard to you: this is not a statement of fact but an exhortation: “Do not feel aggrieved” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “Do not think it hard on you” (New Jerusalem Bible), “Do not consider it a hardship” (New Revised Standard Version). Good News Translation has “Do not be resentful….” The phrase to you translates what is literally “in your eyes,” meaning from your point of view.

At half the cost of a hired servant: the meaning of the text, as translated by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Contemporary English Version, is that the cost of maintaining a slave was half the cost of paying a hired servant. But there are other ways in which this text is understood: (1) “He has given you double the service of a hired man” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible; Dhorme and Driver); (2) “The six years of service was equivalent to the wages of a hired man” (Craigie). It is recommended that the Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Contemporary English Version understanding of the text be followed.

So the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do: see verse 10.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .