< Exodus 22 >

1 “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.
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 If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.
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 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.
But if it is after dawn, he will be responsible.
4 If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.
If he still has what he had taken, whatever it is, ox or ass or sheep, he is to give twice its value.
5 “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.
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 “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.
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 “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
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 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 neighbor’s goods.
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 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 neighbor.
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 “If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man seeing it;
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 the oath of the LORD shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
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 But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner.
But if it is taken from him by a thief, he is to make up for the loss of it to its owner.
13 If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn.
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 “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor’s, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
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 If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.
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 “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.
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 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
If her father will not give her to him on any account, he will have to give the regular payment for virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
Any woman using unnatural powers or secret arts is to be put to death.
19 “Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.
Any man who has sex connection with a beast is to be put to death.
20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.
Complete destruction will come on any man who makes offerings to any other god but the Lord.
21 “You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
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 “You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.
Do no wrong to a widow, or to a child whose father is dead.
23 If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;
If you are cruel to them in any way, and their cry comes up to me, I will certainly give ear;
24 and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
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 “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.
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 If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,
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 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.
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 “You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
You may not say evil of the judges, or put a curse on the ruler of your people.
29 “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.
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 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.
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 “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.
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.

< Exodus 22 >