The Second Book of Moses: Exodus

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- Chapter 22 -

If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, then he must pay five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep.

If a thief is found breaking in, and if he is struck so that he dies, in that case no guilt for murder will attach to anyone on his account.

But if the sun has risen before he breaks in, guilt for murder will attach to the person who kills him. A thief must make restitution. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for his theft.

If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox, a donkey, or a sheep, he must pay back double.

If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field and from the best of his own vineyard.

If a fire breaks out and spreads in thorns so that stacked grain, or standing grain, or a field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.

If a man gives money or goods to his neighbor for safe keeping, and if it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, that thief must pay double.

But if the thief is not found, then the owner of the house must come before the judges to see whether he has put his own hand on his neighbor’s property.

For every dispute about something, whether it is an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any other missing thing about which one says, “This belongs to me,” the claim of both parties must come before the judges. The man whom the judges find guilty must pay double to his neighbor.

If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and if it dies or is hurt or is carried away without anyone seeing it,

an oath to Yahweh must be taken by them both, as to whether or not one person has put his hand on his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept this, and the other will make no restitution.

But if it was stolen from him, the other must make restitution to the owner for it.

If an animal was torn in pieces, let the other man bring the animal as evidence. He will not have to pay for what was torn.

If a man borrows any animal from his neighbor and the animal is injured or dies without the owner being with it, the other man must surely make restitution.

But if the owner was with it, the other man will not have to pay; if the animal was hired, it will be paid for by its hiring fee.

Laws of Social Responsibility

If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and if he sleeps with her, he must surely make her his wife by paying the bride wealth required for this.

If her father completely refuses to give her to him, he must pay money equal to the bride wealth of virgins.

You must not allow a sorceress to live.

Whoever sleeps with a beast must surely be put to death.

Whoever sacrifices to any god except to Yahweh must be completely destroyed.

You must not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

If you afflict them at all, and if they call out to me, Yahweh, I will surely hear their call.

My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows, and your children will become fatherless.

If you lend money to any of my people among you who are poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him or charge him interest.

If you take your neighbor’s garment in pledge, you must return it to him before the sun goes down,

for that is his only covering; it is his garment for his body. What else can he sleep in? When he calls out to me, I will hear him, for I am compassionate.

You must not blaspheme me, God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your winepresses. You must give to me the firstborn of your sons.

You must also do the same with your oxen and your sheep. For seven days they may remain with their mothers, but on the eighth day you must give them to me.

You will be people that are set apart for me. So you must not eat any meat that was torn by animals in the field. Instead, you must throw it to the dogs.

“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 the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

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.

If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

“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 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 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 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.

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.

“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;

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.

But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner.

If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn.

“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 its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.

Laws of Social Responsibility

“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 her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

“Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.

“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.

“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.

If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;

and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

“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 take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,

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.

“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

“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.

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.

“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.