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, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a 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 the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

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.

If the sun has risen on him, he is guilty of bloodshed. He shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall 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 property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay 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 causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he shall 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 fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall 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 delivers to his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall 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.

If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on 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.

For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay 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 delivers to his neighbour a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man 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.

the oath of the LORD shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbour’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.

12 However, if the animal really was stolen from the neighbor, he must compensate the owner.

But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its 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 is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which 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 anything of his neighbour’s, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall 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.

If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.

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 entices a virgin who isn’t pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his 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 her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

18 You must not allow a woman who practices witchcraft to live.

“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

19 Anyone who has sex with an animal must be executed.

“Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.

20 Anyone who sacrifices to any other god than the Lord must be set apart and executed.

“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.

21 You must not exploit or mistreat a foreigner. Remember that you yourselves were once foreigners in Egypt.

“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

22 You must not take advantage of any widow or orphan.

“You shall not take advantage of 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 take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely 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 wrath will grow hot, and I will kill 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 you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not 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 neighbour’s garment as collateral, you shall restore 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 skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.

28 You must not despise God or curse your people's leader.

“You shall not blaspheme 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 shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your 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.

You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall 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, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.