Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avodah Zarah/Chapter 1/1

English Translation

For a period of three days before Pagan festivals, it is forbidden to engage in business transactions with them, to ask them for something or to be asked for something by them, to lend or to borrow from them, and to absolve (them from debt) or be absolved by them (from debt). Rabbi Yehuda says: (it is permitted) to be absolved (from debt) from them, since it causes them distress. (The Sages) said to him: even though they might be in distress at the outset, they will eventually be happy.