< 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 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 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 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 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 is after dawn, he will be responsible.
4 If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or ass, or sheep: he shall restore 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 it were taken away by stealth, he shall make the loss good 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 it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him that which was slain, and he shall not make restitution.
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 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 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 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 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 seduce a virgin not yet espoused, and lie with her: he shall endow her, and have her to 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 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 will not give her to him on any account, he will have to give the regular payment for virgins.
18 Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live.
Any woman using unnatural powers or secret arts is to be put to death.
19 Whosoever copulateth with a beast shall be put to death.
Any man who has sex connection with a beast is to be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to the Lord.
Complete destruction will come on any man who makes offerings to any other god but the Lord.
21 Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers 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 shall not hurt a widow or an orphan.
Do no wrong to a widow, or to a child whose father is dead.
23 If you hurt them they will cry out to me, and I will 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 And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children 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 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 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 thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt give it him again before 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 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.
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 Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.
You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on 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.
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 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.
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 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 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.

< Exodus 22 >