Exodus 22:1-15

New American Standard Bible

Property Rights

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.