< Exodus 22 >

1 If any man steal an ox or a sheep, and kill or sell it: he shall restore five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep.
“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.
2 If a thief be found breaking open a house or undermining it, and be wounded so as to die: he that slew him shall not be guilty of blood.
If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
3 But if he did this when the sun is risen, he hath committed murder, and he shall die. If he have not wherewith to make restitution for the theft, he shall be sold.
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.
4 If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or ass, or sheep: he shall restore double.
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
5 If any man hurt a field or a vineyard, and put in his beast to feed upon that which is other men’s: he shall restore the best of whatsoever he hath in his own field, or in his vineyard, according to the estimation of the damage.
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.
6 If a fire breaking out light upon thorns, and catch stacks of corn, or corn standing in the fields, he that kindled the fire shall make good the loss.
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.
7 If a man deliver money, or any vessel unto his friend to keep, and they be stolen away from him that received them: if the thief be found he shall restore double:
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.
8 If the thief be not known, the master of the house shall be brought to the gods, and shall swear that he did not lay his hand upon his neighbour’s goods,
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.
9 To do any fraud, either in ox, or in ass, or sheep, or raiment, or any thing that may bring damage: the cause of both parties shall come to the gods: and if they give judgment, he shall restore double to his neighbour.
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.
10 If a man deliver ass, ox, sheep, or any beast, to his neighbour’s custody, and it die, or be hurt, or be taken by enemies, and no man saw it:
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,
11 There shall be an oath between them, that he did not put forth his hand to his neighbour’s goods: and the owner shall accept of the oath; and he shall not be compelled to make restitution.
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.
12 But if it were taken away by stealth, he shall make the loss good to the owner.
But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
13 If it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him that which was slain, and he shall not make restitution.
If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
14 If a man borrow of his neighbour any of these things, and it be hurt or die, the owner not being present, he shall be obliged to make restitution.
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.
15 But if the owner be present, he shall not make restitution, especially if it were hired and came for the hire of his work.
If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
16 If a man seduce a virgin not yet espoused, and lie with her: he shall endow her, and have her to wife.
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.
17 If the maid’s father will not give her to him, he shall give money according to the dowry, which virgins are wont to receive.
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.
18 Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live.
You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19 Whosoever copulateth with a beast shall be put to death.
Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to the Lord.
If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
21 Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan.
You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
23 If you hurt them they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry:
If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
24 And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
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.
25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor, that dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not be hard upon them as an extortioner, nor oppress them with usuries.
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.
26 If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt give it him again before sunset.
If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
27 For that same is the only thing wherewith he is covered, the clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate.
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.
28 Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me.
You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
30 Thou shalt do the same with the firstborn of thy oxen also and sheep: seven days let it be with its dam, the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.
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.
31 You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs.
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.

< Exodus 22 >