What are the ramifications of " ... Lo Yih'yeh b'cha Evyon"?
Bava Metzi'a, 33a: It teaches us that when it comes to a loss of pocket, a person has first rights over his own money. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 17.
What are the connotations of the word "Efes ... "?
Rashi (in Sanhedrin, 64b): It means 'Stop' (or 'Finish') the poor among you'. 1
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'Only' or 'but'. 2
Rashi (Ibid.): Aas in Vayigash Bereishis, 47:15: "Ki Afeis Kasef". See also Torah Temimah, note 17.
Oznayim la'Torah: And the Torah inserts it to teach us that nobody will become poor due to cancelling his debt according to the Torah's instructions - as the Rambam states in Hilchos Ma'aser Ani, 10:2 'Nobody ever became poor because he gave Tzedakah'.
How can we reconcile this Pasuk - "Efes ki Lo Yih'yeh b'cha Evyon" with Pasuk 11, which states "Ki Lo Yechdal Evyon mi'Kerev ha'Aretz"?
Rashi #1 and Targum Yonasan: The current Pasuk is speaking when Yisrael do the will of Hashem, 1 whereas Pasuk 11 is referring to what will happen if they don't. 2
Rashi #2 (in Sanhedrin 64b): "Efes Ki Lo Yih'yeh b'cha Evyon" means 'Beware that you do not come to poverty (by not negating your debts in the Sh'mitah)'. 3
Ramban: This Pasuk is speaking in general terms, 4 whereas Pasuk 11 is prophesying that it is impossible for Yisrael to adhere to Hashem's word for all generations, and there is bound to come a generation that does not do the will of Hashem, in which case, there is still a need to warn them about how to treat a poor person.
Rashbam #1 and Riva: The Torah here guarantees that if you cancel the debt, you will not become poor (because Hashem will reimburse you - Rashbam). 5
Rashbam #2: The Pasuk means that cancelling your debts will not make you poor, since Hashem will reimburse you.
Seforno: Even though Hashem issued a command to cancel debts after the Sh'mitah, this will not come into effect (when you do the will of Hashem, because every borrower will be able to pay before Sh'mitah. 6
What is the difference between an Ani and an Evyon?
Rashi: "Evyon" means 'destitute' 1 as opposed to "Ani", which means poor.
Bava Metzi'a 111b: An Ani is embarrassed to ask [his needs], whereas an Evyon is not. 2
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that when Yisrael do the will of Hashem, there will not be poor Yisre'elim. To whom will we then give Ma'aser Ani?
