22 Perhaps someone may take another person's cow or sheep for himself. He may kill it or he may sell it. As punishment, he must pay the owner five cows for each cow that he has taken. He must pay four sheep for each sheep that he has taken.
2 Perhaps someone may catch a robber as he goes into another person's house. The owner of the house might knock down the robber so that he dies. If this happens at night, the owner of the house is not guilty of murder. 3 But if the owner of the house kills the robber after sunrise, he is guilty of murder.
Anyone who takes something that belongs to someone else must pay back the owner. If he cannot pay for everything that he has taken, he must become a slave. The owner will receive the money that someone has paid for the slave.
4 You may find an animal that someone has taken for himself. If the animal is still alive, the person who took it must pay back to the owner twice its value. He must do this, whether it was a cow, a donkey, or a sheep.
5 A man's animals might go into someone else's field or vineyard to eat what is growing there. Then the owner of those animals must pay back the value of what they have eaten. He must give his best grain and his best grapes to pay back the other man.
6 Someone might light a fire in his field to burn thorn bushes. But the fire might grow and it might burn the crops in another farmer's field. It may destroy the crops that are growing there or the grain that is ready for harvest. It might even destroy the whole field. Then the person who lit the fire must pay the farmer for the crops that the fire has destroyed.
7 Perhaps you may give some of your money or your valuable things to your neighbour. You may ask your neighbour to keep them safe for you. But a robber might take those things from your neighbour's house. If you catch the robber, he must pay back twice the value of the things that he took. 8 But if you do not find the robber, you must take your neighbour to stand in front of the judges. [ a ] They must decide if your neighbour has taken your things for himself.
9 Perhaps two people both say that something belongs to them. They may argue about a cow, a donkey, a sheep, some clothes or anything else that they have lost. Then both of them must go to stand in front of the judges. The judges will decide which of them is guilty. The guilty person must pay back twice the value of the thing to the other person.
10 Perhaps you may ask your neighbour to keep one of your animals safe for you. It may be a donkey, a cow, a sheep or any other animal that belongs to you. Then the animal may die, or something may hurt it. Or perhaps a robber takes it for himself. If nobody has seen what really happened, you must do this: 11 Your neighbour must make a serious promise to the Lord . He must promise that he did not take your animal for himself, or hurt it. Then you must accept what he has said. Do not ask your neighbour to pay you any money. 12 But if a robber did take the animal from your neighbour, then your neighbour must pay you for it. 13 But perhaps a wild animal attacked it. Then your neighbour must show the pieces of your animal that are left. Then he will not have to pay you for the loss of your animal.
14 Your neighbour might lend one of his animals to you to do some work. Something bad might happen to the animal while its owner is not with it. It might die, or something might hurt it. Then you must pay your neighbour for the loss of the animal. 15 But if the owner is with his animal when something bad happens to it, you do not have to pay anything. And if you already paid your neighbour some money to use his animal, that will be enough to pay him for the loss.
16 Perhaps a man may meet a young girl who has not had sex with any man before. He might deceive her to have sex with her. If she has not yet promised to marry another man, he must marry her. He must give the right gifts to her parents. 17 Her father might refuse to give her to the man to be his wife. But the man must still give the right gifts for a girl who is not married. [ b ]
18 You must punish with death any woman who is a magician.
19 You must punish with death anyone who has sex with an animal.
20 You must completely destroy anyone who offers a sacrifice to a false god. You must only offer sacrifices to the Lord .
21 Never be cruel to a foreign person or give them trouble. Remember that you yourselves lived in Egypt as foreigners.
22 Never give trouble to any widow or to any children who have no family. 23 If you are cruel to them, I will hear them when they call out to me for help. 24 I will be very angry with you. I will kill you in war. Your wives will become widows. Your children will no longer have any family.
25 You may lend money to any of my people who need help. But do not ask them to pay back more money than you have lent to them. That is what traders in money do. 26 You may take someone's coat as a guarantee that he will pay you back. But you must always return his coat to him before sunset. 27 He needs his coat to keep him warm at night. It is the only warm thing that he has to sleep in. If you keep his coat, I will hear him when he calls out to me for help. And I will help him, because I am very kind to people.
28 Never insult God. Never curse anyone who is a leader of your people.
29 Do not refuse to offer your grain, your wine or your olive oil to me.
You must give your firstborn sons to me.
30 Do the same thing with your cows and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days. But on the eighth day, you must give them to me.
31 You must live as my special people. So do not eat any meat from your animals that wild animals have killed. Instead, you must give it as food to the dogs.
22 “How should you punish a man who steals a bull or a sheep? If the man kills the animal or sells it, then he cannot give it back. So he must pay five bulls for the one he stole. Or he must pay four sheep for the one he stole. He must pay for stealing. 2-4 If he owns nothing, then he will be sold as a slave. But if the man still has the animal and you find it, that man must give the owner two animals for every animal he stole. It doesn’t matter if the animal was a bull, a donkey, or a sheep.
“If a thief is killed while trying to break into a house at night, then no one will be guilty for killing him. But if this happens during the day, the one who killed him will be guilty of murder.
5 “A man might let his animal loose to graze in his field or vineyard. If the animal wanders into another person’s field or vineyard, then the owner must pay. The payment must come from the best of his crop. [ a ]
6 “A man might start a fire to burn thornbushes on his field. But if the fire grows and burns his neighbor’s crops or the grain growing on the neighbor’s field, the man who started the fire must pay for what he burned.
7 “Someone might give some money or tools to a neighbor for safekeeping. What should you do if someone steals those things from the neighbor’s house? If you find the one who stole them, then that thief must pay twice as much as the things are worth. 8 If you don’t find the thief, then the owner of the house must go before the judges [ b ] who will decide if that person is guilty.
9 “What should you do if two men disagree about a bull or a donkey or sheep or clothing or something that is lost? One man says, ‘This is mine,’ and the other says, ‘No, it is mine.’ Both men should go before the judges who will decide who is guilty. The one who was wrong must pay the other man twice as much as the thing is worth.
10 “A man might ask his neighbor to take care of an animal for a short time. It might be a donkey, a bull, or a sheep. But what should you do if that animal is hurt or dies or someone takes the animal while no one is looking? 11 That neighbor must explain that he did not steal the animal. If this is true, the neighbor will promise to the Lord that he did not steal it. The owner of the animal must accept this promise. The neighbor does not have to pay the owner for the animal. 12 But if the neighbor stole the animal, then he must pay the owner for the animal. 13 If wild animals killed the animal, then the neighbor should bring the body as proof. The neighbor will not have to pay the owner for the animal that was killed.
14 “If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and the animal is hurt or dies, then the neighbor must pay the owner for the animal. The neighbor is responsible, because the owner was not there himself. 15 But if the owner was there, then the neighbor does not have to pay. Or if the neighbor was paying money to use the animal for work, he will not have to pay if the animal dies or is hurt. The money he paid to use the animal will be enough payment.
16 “If a man has sexual relations with a virgin who he is not engaged to, [ c ] then he must pay her father the full amount necessary to marry her. 17 If the father refuses to allow his daughter to marry him, then the man must still pay the full amount for her.
18 “You must not allow any woman to do evil magic. If she does magic, you must not let her live.
19 “You must not allow anyone to have sexual relations with an animal. If this happens, that person must be killed.
20 “Whoever makes a sacrifice to a false god should be destroyed. The Lord is the only one you should make sacrifices to.
21 “Remember, in the past you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. So you should not cheat or hurt anyone who is a foreigner in your land.
22 “You must never do anything bad to women whose husbands are dead or to orphans. 23 If you do anything wrong to these widows or orphans, I will know it. I will hear about their suffering. 24 And I will be very angry. I will kill you with a sword. Then your wives will become widows, and your children will become orphans.
25 “If you loan money to any of my people, that is, the poor among you, don’t be like a moneylender and charge them interest. 26 You might take their cloak to make sure they pay the money back, but you must give that cloak back to them before sunset. 27 That cloak might be their only protection against the cold when they lie down to sleep. If they call to me for help, I will listen because I am kind.
28 “You must not curse God or the leaders of your people.
29 “At harvest time you should give me the first grain and the first juice from your fruit. Don’t wait until late in the year.
“Give me your firstborn sons. 30 Also, give me your firstborn cattle and sheep. Let the firstborn stay with its mother for seven days. Then on the eighth day, give him to me.
31 “You are my special people. So don’t eat the meat from something that was killed by wild animals. Let the dogs eat that dead animal.
22 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.
9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
11 Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13 If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
14 And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
26 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31 And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
22 “ [ a ] If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and ( A ) four sheep for the sheep— 2 [ b ] If the ( B ) thief is [ c ] caught while [ d ] breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account— A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be ( C ) sold for his theft. 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his [ e ] possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, ( D ) he shall pay double.
5 “If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
7 “ ( E ) If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [ f ] neighbor’s house, if the thief is [ g ] caught, then the thief shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not [ h ] caught, then the owner of the house shall [ i ] appear before [ j ] ( F ) the judges, to determine whether he [ k ] laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 For every [ l ] breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the [ m ] case of both parties shall come before [ n ] ( G ) the judges; he whom [ o ] the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him , and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an ( H ) oath before the Lord shall be [ p ] taken by the two of them [ q ] that he has not [ r ] laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it , and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.
14 “And if someone [ s ] borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it [ t ] came by its hire.
16 “ ( I ) If a man seduces a virgin who is not [ u ] betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [ v ] dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [ w ] pay money equal to the ( J ) dowry for virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a ( K ) sorceress to live.
19 “ ( L ) Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.
20 “ ( M ) He who sacrifices to [ x ] any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [ y ] utterly destroyed.
21 “ ( N ) You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 ( O ) You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and ( P ) if he does cry out to Me, ( Q ) I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, ( R ) and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “ ( S ) If you lend money to My people, to the poor [ z ] among you, you are not to [ aa ] act as a creditor to him; you shall not [ ab ] charge him ( T ) interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak ( U ) as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his [ ac ] body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that ( V ) when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him , for ( W ) I am gracious.
28 “You shall not [ ad ] ( X ) curse God, ( Y ) nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 “ ( Z ) You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your [ ae ] wine. ( AA ) The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 ( AB ) You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; ( AC ) on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
31 “ ( AD ) You shall be holy people to Me, therefore ( AE ) you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
22 [ a ] “Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back ( A ) five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
2 “If a thief is caught breaking in ( B ) at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; ( C ) 3 but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.
“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, ( D ) but if they have nothing, they must be sold ( E ) to pay for their theft. 4 If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession ( F ) —whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double. ( G )
5 “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution ( H ) from the best of their own field or vineyard.
6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks ( I ) of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution. ( J )
7 “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping ( K ) and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. ( L ) 8 But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, ( M ) and they must [ b ] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. [ c ] ( N ) The one whom the judges declare [ d ] guilty must pay back double to the other.
10 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping ( O ) and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11 the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath ( P ) before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. 12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution ( Q ) must be made to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal. ( R )
14 “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution. ( S ) 15 But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss. ( T )
16 “If a man seduces a virgin ( U ) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, ( V ) and she shall be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
18 “Do not allow a sorceress ( W ) to live.
19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal ( X ) is to be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god ( Y ) other than the Lord must be destroyed. [ e ] ( Z )
21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, ( AA ) for you were foreigners ( AB ) in Egypt.
22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. ( AC ) 23 If you do and they cry out ( AD ) to me, I will certainly hear their cry. ( AE ) 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. ( AF )
25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. ( AG ) 26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, ( AH ) return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? ( AI ) When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. ( AJ )
28 “Do not blaspheme God [ f ] ( AK ) or curse ( AL ) the ruler of your people. ( AM )
29 “Do not hold back offerings ( AN ) from your granaries or your vats. [ g ]
“You must give me the firstborn of your sons. ( AO ) 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. ( AP ) Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day. ( AQ )
31 “You are to be my holy people. ( AR ) So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; ( AS ) throw it to the dogs.
