< 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 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 discovered breaking into someone's house and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of murder.
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 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 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 a live animal he still has, whether it's an ox, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 isn't caught the owner of the house must appear before the judges to find out whether he took 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 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.
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 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 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 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.
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 However, if the animal really was stolen from the neighbor, he must compensate the owner.
But if it was stolen from him, the other must make restitution to the owner for it.
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 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 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 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 compensation is to be paid. If the animal was hired, only the hire charge needs to be paid.
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 engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the full bride-price for her to become 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 adamantly refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay the same amount as the bride-price for 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 woman who practices witchcraft to live.
You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19 Anyone who has sex with an animal must be executed.
Whoever sleeps with a beast must surely be put to death.
20 Anyone who sacrifices to any other god than the Lord must be set apart and executed.
Whoever sacrifices to any god except to Yahweh must be completely destroyed.
21 You must not exploit or mistreat a foreigner. Remember that you yourselves were once foreigners in Egypt.
You must not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 You must not take advantage of any widow or orphan.
You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.
23 If you mistreat them, and they call out to me for help, I will definitely respond to their cry.
If you afflict them at all, and if they call out to me, I will surely hear their call.
24 I will become angry, and I will kill you with the sword. 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 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 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 require your neighbor's cloak as security for a loan, you must 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 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 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 despise God or curse your people's leader.
You must not blaspheme me, God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
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.
You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your winepresses. You must give to me the firstborn of your sons.
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.
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 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 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.

< Exodus 22 >