< Exodus 22 >

1 Yahweh also said, “If someone steals a bull or a sheep, and then slaughters it [to sell it or to sacrifice it] or sells its [meat to someone else], he must pay five bulls for the bull [that he stole], and [he must pay] four sheep for the sheep [that he stole].
“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 is caught while he is breaking into someone else’s house [at night], if [the one who catches him] kills the thief, he is not guilty of murdering him.
If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
3 But if that happens during the daytime, [the one who killed the thief] is guilty of murdering him. The thief must pay for what he stole. If he has no [animals with which to pay for the one that he stole], he must be sold to [become someone’s else’s slave and the money must be used] to pay for what he stole.
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 the thief still has the animal when he is caught, whether it is a bull or a donkey or a sheep, and it is still alive, the thief must give back [the stolen animal as well as giving] two [additional] animals for each one that he stole.
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
5 If someone allows his animals to (graze/eat the grass) in his field or in his vineyard, and if they stray away and eat the crops in another person’s field, the owner of the animals must pay [the owner of those crops] by giving him the best crops from his own field or vineyard.
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 Suppose someone starts a fire in his own field, and the fire spreads through the grass and starts burning in someone else’s field, and the fire burns grain that is growing or grain that is already [cut and] stacked. Then the person who started the fire must pay completely for the damage.
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 Suppose someone gives to another person some money or other valuable goods and asks him to guard them [in his house for a while]. If those things are stolen from that person’s house, if the thief is caught, he must pay back twice [as much as he stole].
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 But if the thief is not caught, the owner of the house [from which the things were stolen] must stand before the judges, so that the judges can determine whether [the owner of the house] was the one who took the other man’s goods [and sold them to someone else].
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 If two people argue about which one of them owns a bull or a donkey or a sheep or some clothing, or something else that has been lost, the two people who each claim/say that the item belongs to them must stand before the judges. The one whom the judges declare is lying must pay back [to the real owner] twice as many bulls or donkeys or sheep or pieces of clothing.
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 Suppose someone gives his donkey or bull or sheep or some other animal to someone else and asks him to take care of it [for a while], and the animal dies or is injured or is stolen while no one is watching.
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 Then the person [who was taking care of the animal] must (swear/solemnly declare), knowing that God is listening, that he did not steal the animal. If he did not steal it the owner of the animal must accept/believe that the other person is telling the truth, and the other person will not have to pay anything back to the owner.
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 the animal was stolen [while he was supposed to be taking care of it], the man who promised to take care of it must pay back the owner for the animal.
But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
13 If [he says that] the animal was killed by wild animals, he must bring back the remains of the animal that was killed and show it to the animal’s owner. If he does that, he will not have to pay anything for the animal.
If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
14 If someone borrows an animal, and if that animal is hurt or dies when its owner is not there, the one who borrowed it must pay the owner for the animal.
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 that happens when the owner of the animal is there, the one who borrowed it will not have to pay back anything. If the man who borrowed it only rented it, the money that he paid to rent it will be enough to pay for the animal [dying or being injured].”
If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
16 “If a man persuades a girl/woman to have sex with him, a girl/woman who (is a virgin/has never had sex with any man) and who is not engaged to be married, he must pay the bride price for her and marry her.
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 But if her father refuses to allow her to marry him, he must pay to the woman’s father the amount of money that is equal to the amount of bride price money that men pay for virgins.
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 You must execute any woman who (practices sorcery/is a shaman).
You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19 You must execute any person who has sex with an animal.
Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
20 You [must offer sacrifices] only to Yahweh. You must execute anyone who offers a sacrifice to any [other] god.
If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
21 You must not mistreat a foreigner [who comes to live among you]. Do not forget that you were previously foreigners in Egypt.
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 You must not mistreat any widow or any orphan.
You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
23 If you mistreat them and they cry out to me [for help], I will hear them.
If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
24 And I will be angry with you, and I will cause you to be killed in a war [MTY]. Your wives will become widows, and your children will no longer have fathers.
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 you lend money to any of my people who are poor, do not act like a moneylender and require him to pay interest on the money.
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 he gives you his cloak to guarantee [that he will pay the money back], you must give the cloak back to him before the sun goes down,
If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
27 because he needs it to keep him warm [during the night]. (That is the only covering that poor people have when they sleep at night./What else will he cover himself with during the night?) [RHQ] [If you do not act mercifully toward him by returning his cloak], when he cries out to me asking for my help, I will help him, because I [always act] mercifully.
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 Do not (revile/speak evil about) me, and do not (curse/ask me to do harmful things to) any ruler of your people.
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 (Do not withhold from/Give) me the best parts of the grain that you harvest and of the olive oil and the wine that you produce.
You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
30 You must dedicate your firstborn sons to me. Similarly, your firstborn [male] cattle and sheep belong to me. After those animals are born, allow them to stay with their mothers for seven days. On the eighth day, offer them to me [as a sacrifice].
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 are people who are (completely dedicated to/set apart for) me. [And I detest] the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals. Therefore you should not eat such meat. Instead, throw it where the dogs [can eat it].”
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 >