¹⁹ The avenger of blood^(A) shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death.^{(B) 20} If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally^(C) so that they die ²¹ or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death;^(D) that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood^(E) shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

²² “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally^{(F) 23} or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, ²⁴ the assembly^(G) must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. ²⁵ The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest,^(H) who was anointed^(I) with the holy oil.^(J)

²⁶ “‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled ²⁷ and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. ²⁸ The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.

²⁹ “‘This is to have the force of law^(K) for you throughout the generations to come,^(L) wherever you live.^(M)

³⁰ “‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.^(N)

⁶ On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.^{(A) 7} The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death,^(B) and then the hands of all the people.^(C) You must purge the evil^(D) from among you.

Law Courts

⁸ If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge^(E)—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults^(F)—take them to the place the Lord your God will choose.^{(G) 9} Go to the Levitical^(H) priests and to the judge^(I) who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.^{(J) 10} You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the Lord will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do. ¹¹ Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.^{(K) 12} Anyone who shows contempt^(L) for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering^(M) there to the Lord your God is to be put to death.^(N) You must purge the evil from Israel.^(O)