Exodus 22
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
If a man takes without right another man's ox or his sheep, and puts it to death or gets a price for it, he is to give five oxen for an ox, or four sheep for a sheep, in payment: the thief will have to make payment for what he has taken; if he has no money, he himself will have to be exchanged for money, so that payment may be made.
2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
If a thief is taken in the act of forcing his way into a house, and his death is caused by a blow, the owner of the house is not responsible for his blood.
3 But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft.
But if it is after dawn, he will be responsible.
4 If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
If he still has what he had taken, whatever it is, ox or ass or sheep, he is to give twice its value.
5 If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
If a man makes a fire in a field or a vine-garden, and lets the fire do damage to another man's field, he is to give of the best produce of his field or his vine-garden to make up for it.
6 If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.
If there is a fire and the flames get to the thorns at the edge of the field, causing destruction of the cut grain or of the living grain, or of the field, he who made the fire will have to make up for the damage.
7 If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
If a man puts money or goods in the care of his neighbour to keep for him, and it is taken from the man's house, if they get the thief, he will have to make payment of twice the value.
8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.
If they do not get the thief, let the master of the house come before the judges and take an oath that he has not put his hand on his neighbour's goods.
9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
In any question about an ox or an ass or a sheep or clothing, or about the loss of any property which anyone says is his, let the two sides put their cause before God; and he who is judged to be in the wrong is to make payment to his neighbour of twice the value.
10 If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching,
If a man puts an ass or an ox or a sheep or any beast into the keeping of his neighbour, and it comes to death or is damaged or is taken away, without any person seeing it:
11 an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution.
If he takes his oath before the Lord that he has not put his hand to his neighbour's goods, the owner is to take his word for it and he will not have to make payment for it.
12 But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
But if it is taken from him by a thief, he is to make up for the loss of it to its owner.
13 If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
But if it has been damaged by a beast, and he is able to make this clear, he will not have to make payment for what was damaged.
14 If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution.
If a man gets from his neighbour the use of one of his beasts, and it is damaged or put to death when the owner is not with it, he will certainly have to make payment for the loss.
15 If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
If the owner is with it, he will not have to make payment: if he gave money for the use of it, the loss is covered by the payment.
16 If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
If a man takes a virgin, who has not given her word to another man, and has connection with her, he will have to give a bride-price for her to be his wife.
17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.
If her father will not give her to him on any account, he will have to give the regular payment for virgins.
18 You must not allow a sorceress to live.
Any woman using unnatural powers or secret arts is to be put to death.
19 Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
Any man who has sex connection with a beast is to be put to death.
20 If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Complete destruction will come on any man who makes offerings to any other god but the Lord.
21 You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Do no wrong to a man from a strange country, and do not be hard on him; for you yourselves were living in a strange country, in the land of Egypt.
22 You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
Do no wrong to a widow, or to a child whose father is dead.
23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
If you are cruel to them in any way, and their cry comes up to me, I will certainly give ear;
24 My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
And in the heat of my wrath I will put you to death with the sword, so that your wives will be widows and your children without fathers.
25 If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
If you let any of the poor among my people have the use of your money, do not be a hard creditor to him, and do not take interest.
26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
If ever you take your neighbour's clothing in exchange for the use of your money, let him have it back before the sun goes down:
27 because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
For it is the only thing he has for covering his skin; what is he to go to sleep in? and when his cry comes up to me, I will give ear, for my mercy is great.
28 You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.
29 You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
Do not keep back your offerings from the wealth of your grain and your vines. The first of your sons you are to give to me.
30 You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.
In the same way with your oxen and your sheep: for seven days let the young one be with its mother; on the eighth day give it to me.
31 You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.
You are to be holy men to me: the flesh of no animal whose death has been caused by the beasts of the field may be used for your food; it is to be given to the dogs.
