Deuteronomy 25:1-3

Wycliffe Bible

25 If a cause is betwixt any men, and they ask (the) judges, they shall give the victory of rightwiseness to him, whom they perceive to be just, and they shall condemn him of wickedness, whom they perceive to be wicked.

² And if they see him that hath sinned, (to be) worthy of beatings, they shall cast him (face) down, and they shall make him to be beaten before them; and the manner of the beatings shall be for the measure of the sin (and the number of beatings, or strokes, shall correspond to the measure of the sin),

³ so only that they pass not the number of forty strokes, lest thy brother be rent vilely before thine eyes, and go then away (and then go away).