Exodus 21:37-22:30
Tree of Life Version
37 [a] If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he is to pay five oxen for one ox or four sheep for one sheep.
22 “If a thief found breaking in is struck so that he dies, there is no bloodguilt for him. 2 But if the sun has risen, there is bloodguilt, and he is to make full restitution. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for his theft. 3 If the item is found in his hand alive—whether ox, donkey or sheep—he is to pay double.
4 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it feeds in another man’s field, then he is to make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
5 “If fire breaks out and spreads among thorns, so that stalks of grain, standing grain or the fields themselves are consumed, then the one who lit the fire must make full restitution.
6 “If a man entrusts his neighbor with money or items for safekeeping, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, when the thief is found, he must pay double. 7 If the thief is not found, then the master of the house is to present himself to God, to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods. 8 For any transgression—whether ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or anything else lost—when someone says, ‘This is mine!’ the case of both parties is to be brought before God. The one whom God convicts is to pay double to his neighbor.
9 “If a man entrusts his neighbor with a donkey, ox, sheep or any animal to care for, and it dies, is hurt or taken away with no one seeing, 10 then there must be an oath before Adonai between the two of them, to determine whether or not he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods. The owner is to accept it with no restitution. 11 But if indeed it was stolen from him, he is to make restitution to the owner. 12 If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it as evidence. He is not required to pay for what has been torn to pieces.
13 “If a man borrows anything belonging to his neighbor, and it is harmed or dies in the absence of the owner, he must make full restitution. 14 But if the owner is present, he is not required to pay restitution. If it was rented, it is covered by the rental fee.
15 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 16 But if her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he must weigh out silver equal to the dowry for virgins.
17 “You must not permit a sorceress to live.
18 “Anyone who lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
19 “Anyone who sacrifices to the gods, except to Adonai alone, is to be put under a ban of destruction.
20 “You must not exploit or oppress an outsider, for you were outsiders in the land of Egypt.
21 “You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. 22 If you mistreat them in any way, and they cry out to Me, I will surely hear their cry. 23 My wrath will burn hot, and I will kill you with the sword. So your wives will become widows and your children will become orphans.
24 “If you lend money to any of My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act like a debt collector with him, and you are not to charge him interest. 25 If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun goes down, 26 for that is his only covering, his cloak for his skin. What will he sleep in? When he cries out to Me I will hear, because I am gracious.
27 “Do not despise God, or curse a ruler of your people.
28 “Do not hold back the fullness of your crops or your vintage. You are to present the firstborn of your sons to Me. 29 “Do the same with your cattle and with your sheep. For seven days it is to be with its mother, and on the eighth day you are to give it to Me.
30 “You are to be a holy people for Me. You must not eat any flesh torn by beasts in the field. You may throw it out to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 21:37 Traditional Christian texts number Ex. 21:37-22:30 as Ex. 22:1-31.
Exodus 21:37-22:30
American Standard Version
22 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no [a]bloodguiltiness for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall pay double.
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods. 9 For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before [b]God; he whom [c]God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbor.
10 If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: 11 the oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, whether he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. 13 If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness; he shall not make good that which was torn.
14 And if a man [d]borrow aught of his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. 15 If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be a hired thing, [e]it came for its hire.
16 And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.
19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be [f]utterly destroyed. 21 And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 If thou lend money to any of my people with thee that is poor, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest. 26 If thou at all take thy neighbor’s garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him before the sun goeth down: 27 for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
28 Thou shalt not revile [g]God, nor curse a ruler of thy people. 29 Thou shalt not delay to offer of [h]thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:2 Hebrew blood.
- Exodus 22:9 Or, the judges
- Exodus 22:9 Or, the judges
- Exodus 22:14 Hebrew ask.
- Exodus 22:15 Or, it is reckoned in (Hebrew cometh into) its hire
- Exodus 22:20 Hebrew devoted.
- Exodus 22:28 Or, the judges
- Exodus 22:29 Hebrew thy fulness and thy tear.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
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