< Exodus 22 >

1 “Anyone who steals an ox or a sheep and kills or sells it, he must pay back five oxen for one ox and four sheep for one sheep.
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.
2 If a thief is discovered breaking into someone's house and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of murder.
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.
3 But if it happens during daylight, then someone is guilty of murder. A thief must pay everything back that's stolen. If he doesn't have anything, then he must be sold to pay for what was stolen.
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.
4 If what was stolen is a live animal he still has, whether it's an ox, donkey, or sheep, he must pay back double.
If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or ass, or sheep: he shall restore double.
5 If livestock are grazing in a field or vineyard and their owner lets them stray so that they graze in someone else's field, the owner must pay compensation from the best of their own fields or vineyards.
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.
6 If a fire is started and it spreads to thorn bushes and then burns stacked or standing grain, or even the whole field, the person who started the fire must pay full compensation.
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.
7 If someone gives his neighbor money or possessions to be kept safe and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, if the thief is caught they must pay back double.
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:
8 If the thief isn't caught the owner of the house must appear before the judges to find out whether he took his neighbor's property.
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,
9 If there's an argument over the ownership of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything that was lost that someone says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their case before the judges. The one whom the judges find in the wrong must pay the other back double.
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.
10 If someone asks a neighbor to look after a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal, but it dies or is injured or is stolen without anybody noticing,
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:
11 then an oath must be taken before the Lord to decide if the neighbor has taken the owner's property. The owner must accept the oath and not demand compensation.
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.
12 However, if the animal really was stolen from the neighbor, he must compensate the owner.
But if it were taken away by stealth, he shall make the loss good to the owner.
13 If it was killed and torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall present the carcass as evidence and does not need to pay compensation.
If it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him that which was slain, and he shall not make restitution.
14 If someone borrows a neighbor's animal and it's injured or dies while its owner is not present, they must pay compensation in full.
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.
15 If the owner was present, no compensation is to be paid. If the animal was hired, only the hire charge needs to be paid.
But if the owner be present, he shall not make restitution, especially if it were hired and came for the hire of his work.
16 If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the full bride-price for her to become his wife.
If a man seduce a virgin not yet espoused, and lie with her: he shall endow her, and have her to wife.
17 If her father adamantly refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay the same amount as the bride-price for a virgin.
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.
18 You must not allow a woman who practices witchcraft to live.
Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live.
19 Anyone who has sex with an animal must be executed.
Whosoever copulateth with a beast shall be put to death.
20 Anyone who sacrifices to any other god than the Lord must be set apart and executed.
He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to the Lord.
21 You must not exploit or mistreat a foreigner. Remember that you yourselves were once foreigners in Egypt.
Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 You must not take advantage of any widow or orphan.
You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan.
23 If you mistreat them, and they call out to me for help, I will definitely respond to their cry.
If you hurt them they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry:
24 I will become angry, and I will kill you with the sword. Your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 If you lend money to any of my people because they're poor, you must not behave as a moneylender to them. You must not charge them any interest.
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.
26 If you require your neighbor's cloak as security for a loan, you must return it to him by sunset,
If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt give it him again before sunset.
27 because it's the only clothing he has for his body. What would he sleep in otherwise? If he calls out to me for help, I will listen, for I am considerate.
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.
28 You must not despise God or curse your people's leader.
Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy people thou shalt not curse.
29 You must not hold onto the required offerings of your produce, olive oil, and wine. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me.
30 You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. They can stay with their mothers for their first seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
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.
31 You are to be holy people to me. You must not eat any animal carcass that you find in the countryside that has been killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs to eat.”
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.

< Exodus 22 >