At first they used to say [that] a person may gather sticks, stones, and grasses from his [field] in the same manner that he gathers from his neighbor’s [field] — the large [ones]. When the transgressors multiplied, they instituted that each may [only] gather from another’s field without benefit, and needless to say, without apportioning food to them.

A field which was cleared of thorns may be sown in [the year] following the seventh. [A field] which was plowed thoroughly or [in] which [animals] were penned may not be sown in [the year] following the seventh. [If] a field was plowed thoroughly — Beis Shammai say: One may not eat its produce during the seventh [year]. But Beis Hillel say: One may eat [it]. Beis Shammai say: One may not eat Shemittah produce with [an acknowledgment of] gratitude. But Beis Hillel say: One may eat with or without [an acknowledgment of] gratitude. R’ Yehudah says: The opinions are reversed — this is one of [the instances in which] the ruling of Beis Shammai is lenient while the ruling of Beis Hillel is stringent.

One may rent plowed fields from non-Jews during the seventh [year], but not from Jews. One may offer encouragement to non-Jews during the seventh [year], but not to Jews; and one may inquire into their well-being, [in keeping with] the ways of peace.

[If] one thins out olive trees — Beis Shammai say: He razes [them]. But Beis Hillel say: He [may even] uproot them. They agree, however, that one who clears [may] only raze. What constitutes thinning? One or two [trees]. Clearing? Three, one next to the other. In what case was this said? In his own [property], but from within his friend’s [property], even if he clears he may uproot.

One who splits [wood from] an olive tree may not cover [the cut] with dirt, but he may cover it with stones or straw. One who cuts beams of sycamore may not cover [the cut] with dirt, but he may cover it with stones or straw. One may not cut down a virgin sycamore in the seventh [year], because it is a labor. R’ Yehudah says: In the [regular] way, it is forbidden; rather, he should raise [the cut above] ten handbreadths, or raze it at the ground.

One who clips grapevines or cuts down reeds — R’ Yose HaGlili says: He must move [the cut] one handbreadth away. R’ Akiva says: He may cut in the normal way with an axe, a sickle, a saw or with whatever he should want. A tree which has cracked may be tied during the seventh [year], not so that it will heal, but so that it will not deteriorate further.

. From when may one eat fruits of the tree during the seventh [year]? Unripe figs: Once they redden one may eat them with his bread in the field; when they grow large, one may gather them into the house. So too, at the same stage in the other years of the seven-year cycle, it [becomes] subject to the obligation of tithes.

The unripe grape: Once it produces juice one may eat his bread with it in the field; when it becomes transparent, one may bring it into his house. So too, at the same stage in the other years of the seven-year cycle, it [becomes] subject to the obligation of tithes.

Olives: Once they yield a quarter-[log] per seah one may break [them] open and eat [them] in the field; when they yield a half-log one may crush [them] and anoint [himself] in the field; when they yield a third, one may crush [them] in the field and bring [them] into his house. So too, at the same stage during the other years of the seven-year cycle, they [become] subject to the obligation of tithes. All other fruits of the tree, whatever their time for tithes, so too is their time for the seventh [year].

From when is it forbidden to cut down a tree during the seventh [year]? Beis Shammai say: Every tree from when it bursts forth. Beis Hillel say: Carob trees, from when they hang; grapevines, from when they form seeds; olive trees, from when they blossom; and any other tree, from when it bursts forth. And every tree, once its [fruit] reaches the stage of tithing, one is permitted to cut it down. How much must there be on an olive tree before one is prohibited to cut it down? A quarter-[kav]. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: [It] all depends on the olive tree.

White figs [have] their seventh [year in] the second [year of the cycle], because they grow over three years. R’ Yehudah says: The parsaos [have] their seventh [year in the year] following the seventh, because they grow over two years. They said to him: They said [this] only [in regard to] white figs.

[If] one buries luf during the seventh [year] — R’ Meir says: He may not [bury] less than two seah, [piled] to a height of three handbreadths, with a handbreadth of dirt on top of it. But the Sages say: He may not [bury] less than four kav, [piled] to a height of one handbreadth, with a handbreadth of dirt on top of it. He buries it in a place treaded by people.

A luf which grew past the seventh [year] — R’ Eliezer says: If the poor picked its leaves, they have [been] picked; but if not, he must make an accounting with the poor. R’ Yehoshua says: If the poor picked its leaves, they have [been] picked; but if not, the poor have no accounting with him.

Luf of the eve of the seventh [year] which entered the seventh [year], and so too summer onions, and madder in fertile soil — Beis Shammai say: One may uproot them with spades of wood. But Beis Hillel say: [Even] with mattocks of metal. But they agree about madder in rocky terrain, that one may uproot it with mattocks of metal.

From when is a person permitted to buy luf in [the year] following the seventh? R’ Yehudah says: Immediately. But the Sages say: From when the new [crop] is abundant.

These are tools that a craftsman is not permitted to sell during the seventh [year]: A plow and all its accessories, a yoke, winnowing fork, and the plowshare. But he may sell a hand-sickle, a reaping sickle, and a wagon and all its accessories. This is the rule: Any [implement] employed solely for sinful activity is forbidden [for sale]; [if it is employed] for [both] prohibited and permitted [activities], it is permitted [for sale].