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 steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, then he must pay five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep.

2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.

If a thief is found breaking in, and if he is struck so that he dies, in that case no guilt for murder will attach to anyone on his account.

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 the sun has risen before he breaks in, guilt for murder will attach to the person who kills him. A thief must make restitution. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for his theft.

4 If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.

If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox, a donkey, or a sheep, he must pay back double.

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 grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets his animal loose, and it grazes in another man's field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field and from the best of his own vineyard.

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 a fire breaks out and spreads in thorns so that stacked grain, or standing grain, or a field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.

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 gives money or goods to his neighbor for safe keeping, and if it is stolen out of the man's house, if the thief is found, that thief must pay double.

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.

But if the thief is not found, then the owner of the house must come before the judges to see whether he has put his own hand on his neighbor's property.

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.

For every dispute about something, whether it is an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any other missing thing about which one says, “This belongs to me,” the claim of both parties must come before the judges. The man whom the judges find guilty must pay double to his neighbor.

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 gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and if it dies or is hurt or is carried away without anyone 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.

an oath to Yahweh must be taken by them both, as to whether or not one person has put his hand on his neighbor's property. The owner must accept this, and the other will make no restitution.

12 But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.

But if it was stolen from him, the other must make restitution to the owner for it.

13 If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.

If an animal was torn in pieces, let the other man bring the animal as evidence. He will not have to pay for what was torn.

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 borrows any animal from his neighbor and the animal is injured or dies without the owner being with it, the other man must surely make restitution.

15 If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.

But if the owner was with it, the other man will not have to pay; if the animal was hired, it will be paid for by its hiring fee.

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 seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and if he sleeps with her, he must surely make her his wife by paying the bride wealth required for this.

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 completely refuses to give her to him, he must pay money equal to the bride wealth of virgins.

18 You must not allow a sorceress to live.

You must not allow a sorceress to live.

19 Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.

Whoever sleeps with a beast must surely be put to death.

20 If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.

Whoever sacrifices to any god except to Yahweh must be completely destroyed.

21 You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

You must not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

22 You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.

You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.

If you afflict them at all, and if they call out to me, I will surely hear their call.

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.

My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows, and your children will become fatherless.

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 lend money to any of my people among you who are poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him or charge him interest.

26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,

If you take your neighbor's garment in pledge, you must return it to him 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 that is his only covering; it is his garment for his body. What else can he sleep in? When he calls out to me, I will hear him, for I am compassionate.

28 You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

You must not blaspheme me, God, nor curse a 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.

You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your winepresses. You must give to me the firstborn of your sons.

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.

You must also do the same with your oxen and your sheep. For seven days they may remain with their mothers, but on the eighth day you must give them 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 will be people that are set apart for me. So you must not eat any meat that was torn by animals in the field. Instead, you must throw it to the dogs.