< Exodus 22 >

1 si quis furatus fuerit bovem aut ovem et occiderit vel vendiderit quinque boves pro uno bove restituet et quattuor oves pro una ove
“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 si effringens fur domum sive suffodiens fuerit inventus et accepto vulnere mortuus fuerit percussor non erit reus sanguinis
If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
3 quod si orto sole hoc fecerit homicidium perpetravit et ipse morietur si non habuerit quod pro furto reddat venundabitur
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 si inventum fuerit apud eum quod furatus est vivens sive bos sive asinus sive ovis duplum restituet
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
5 si laeserit quispiam agrum vel vineam et dimiserit iumentum suum ut depascatur aliena quicquid optimum habuerit in agro suo vel in vinea pro damni aestimatione restituet
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 si egressus ignis invenerit spinas et conprehenderit acervos frugum sive stantes segetes in agris reddet damnum qui ignem succenderit
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 si quis commendaverit amico pecuniam aut vas in custodiam et ab eo qui susceperat furto ablata fuerint si invenitur fur duplum reddet
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 si latet dominus domus adplicabitur ad deos et iurabit quod non extenderit manum in rem proximi sui
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 ad perpetrandam fraudem tam in bove quam in asino et ove ac vestimento et quicquid damnum inferre potest ad deos utriusque causa perveniet et si illi iudicaverint duplum restituet proximo suo
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 si quis commendaverit proximo suo asinum bovem ovem et omne iumentum ad custodiam et mortuum fuerit aut debilitatum vel captum ab hostibus nullusque hoc viderit
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 iusiurandum erit in medio quod non extenderit manum ad rem proximi sui suscipietque dominus iuramentum et ille reddere non cogetur
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 quod si furto ablatum fuerit restituet damnum domino
But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
13 si comestum a bestia deferet ad eum quod occisum est et non restituet
If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
14 qui a proximo suo quicquam horum mutuo postularit et debilitatum aut mortuum fuerit domino non praesente reddere conpelletur
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 quod si inpraesentiarum fuit dominus non restituet maxime si conductum venerat pro mercede operis sui
If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
16 si seduxerit quis virginem necdum desponsatam et dormierit cum ea dotabit eam et habebit uxorem
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 si pater virginis dare noluerit reddet pecuniam iuxta modum dotis quam virgines accipere consuerunt
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 maleficos non patieris vivere
You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19 qui coierit cum iumento morte moriatur
Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
20 qui immolat diis occidetur praeter Domino soli
If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
21 advenam non contristabis neque adfliges eum advenae enim et ipsi fuistis in terra Aegypti
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 viduae et pupillo non nocebitis
You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
23 si laeseritis eos vociferabuntur ad me et ego audiam clamorem eorum
If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
24 et indignabitur furor meus percutiamque vos gladio et erunt uxores vestrae viduae et filii vestri pupilli
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 si pecuniam mutuam dederis populo meo pauperi qui habitat tecum non urgues eum quasi exactor nec usuris opprimes
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 si pignus a proximo tuo acceperis vestimentum ante solis occasum redde ei
If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
27 ipsum enim est solum quo operitur indumentum carnis eius nec habet aliud in quo dormiat si clamaverit ad me exaudiam eum quia misericors sum
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 diis non detrahes et principi populi tui non maledices
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 decimas tuas et primitias non tardabis offerre primogenitum filiorum tuorum dabis mihi
You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
30 de bubus quoque et ovibus similiter facies septem diebus sit cum matre sua die octavo reddes illum mihi
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 viri sancti eritis mihi carnem quae a bestiis fuerit praegustata non comedetis sed proicietis canibus
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 >