שמות 22

1 כי יגנב איש שור או שה וטבחו או מכרו--חמשה בקר ישלם תחת השור וארבע צאן תחת השה

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 אם במחתרת ימצא הגנב והכה ומת--אין לו דמים

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 אם זרחה השמש עליו דמים לו שלם ישלם--אם אין לו ונמכר בגנבתו

But if it is after dawn, he will be responsible.

4 אם המצא תמצא בידו הגנבה משור עד חמור עד שה--חיים שנים ישלם

If he still has what he had taken, whatever it is, ox or ass or sheep, he is to give twice its value.

5 כי יבער איש שדה או כרם ושלח את בעירה ובער בשדה אחר--מיטב שדהו ומיטב כרמו ישלם

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 כי תצא אש ומצאה קצים ונאכל גדיש או הקמה או השדה--שלם ישלם המבער את הבערה

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 כי יתן איש אל רעהו כסף או כלים לשמר וגנב מבית האיש--אם ימצא הגנב ישלם שנים

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 אם לא ימצא הגנב ונקרב בעל הבית אל האלהים אם לא שלח ידו במלאכת רעהו

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 על כל דבר פשע על שור על חמור על שה על שלמה על כל אבדה אשר יאמר כי הוא זה--עד האלהים יבא דבר שניהם אשר ירשיען אלהים ישלם שנים לרעהו

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 כי יתן איש אל רעהו חמור או שור או שה וכל בהמה--לשמר ומת או נשבר או נשבה אין ראה

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 שבעת יהוה תהיה בין שניהם--אם לא שלח ידו במלאכת רעהו ולקח בעליו ולא ישלם

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 ואם גנב יגנב מעמו--ישלם לבעליו

But if it is taken from him by a thief, he is to make up for the loss of it to its owner.

13 אם טרף יטרף יבאהו עד הטרפה לא ישלם

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 וכי ישאל איש מעם רעהו ונשבר או מת בעליו אין עמו שלם ישלם

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 אם בעליו עמו לא ישלם אם שכיר הוא בא בשכרו

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 וכי יפתה איש בתולה אשר לא ארשה--ושכב עמה מהר ימהרנה לו לאשה

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 אם מאן ימאן אביה לתתה לו--כסף ישקל כמהר הבתולת

If her father will not give her to him on any account, he will have to give the regular payment for virgins.

18 מכשפה לא תחיה

Any woman using unnatural powers or secret arts is to be put to death.

19 כל שכב עם בהמה מות יומת

Any man who has sex connection with a beast is to be put to death.

20 זבח לאלהים יחרם--בלתי ליהוה לבדו

Complete destruction will come on any man who makes offerings to any other god but the Lord.

21 וגר לא תונה ולא תלחצנו כי גרים הייתם בארץ מצרים

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 כל אלמנה ויתום לא תענון

Do no wrong to a widow, or to a child whose father is dead.

23 אם ענה תענה אתו--כי אם צעק יצעק אלי שמע אשמע צעקתו

If you are cruel to them in any way, and their cry comes up to me, I will certainly give ear;

24 וחרה אפי והרגתי אתכם בחרב והיו נשיכם אלמנות ובניכם יתמים

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 אם כסף תלוה את עמי את העני עמך--לא תהיה לו כנשה לא תשימון עליו נשך

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 אם חבל תחבל שלמת רעך--עד בא השמש תשיבנו לו

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 כי הוא כסותה לבדה הוא שמלתו לערו במה ישכב--והיה כי יצעק אלי ושמעתי כי חנון אני

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 אלהים לא תקלל ונשיא בעמך לא תאר

You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.

29 מלאתך ודמעך לא תאחר בכור בניך תתן לי

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 כן תעשה לשרך לצאנך שבעת ימים יהיה עם אמו ביום השמיני תתנו לי

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 ואנשי קדש תהיון לי ובשר בשדה טרפה לא תאכלו לכלב תשלכון אתו

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.