“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.

“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.

(A)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [a]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [b]caught, then the thief shall pay double. If the thief is not [c]caught, then the owner of the house shall [d]appear before [e](B)the judges, to determine whether he [f]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. For every [g]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 [h]case of both parties shall come before [i](C)the judges; he whom [j]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 (D)oath before the Lord shall be [k]taken by the two of them [l]that he has not [m]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 [n]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 [o]came by its hire.

Various Laws

16 (E)If a man seduces a virgin who is not [p]betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [q]dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [r]pay money equal to the (F)dowry for virgins.

18 “You shall not allow a (G)sorceress to live.

19 (H)Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20 (I)He who sacrifices to [s]any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [t]utterly destroyed.

21 (J)You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 (K)You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and (L)if he does cry out to Me, (M)I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, (N)and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 (O)If you lend money to My people, to the poor [u]among you, you are not to [v]act as a creditor to him; you shall not [w]charge him (P)interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak (Q)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 [x]body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that (R)when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for (S)I am gracious.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
  2. Exodus 22:7 Lit found
  3. Exodus 22:8 Lit found
  4. Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
  5. Exodus 22:8 Or God
  6. Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
  7. Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
  8. Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
  9. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  10. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  11. Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
  12. Exodus 22:11 Lit if
  13. Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
  14. Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
  15. Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss
  16. Exodus 22:16 A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together
  17. Exodus 22:16 I.e., bride-price
  18. Exodus 22:17 Lit weigh out silver
  19. Exodus 22:20 Lit the gods
  20. Exodus 22:20 Lit put under the ban
  21. Exodus 22:25 Lit with
  22. Exodus 22:25 Lit be
  23. Exodus 22:25 Lit lay upon
  24. Exodus 22:27 Lit skin

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