The Israelites Oppressed

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel^(A) who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; ³ Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; ⁴ Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.^{(B) 5} The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy^[a] in all;^(C) Joseph was already in Egypt.

⁶ Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,^{(D) 7} but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers^(E) and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

⁸ Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.^{(F) 9} “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous^(G) for us.^{(H) 10} Come, we must deal shrewdly^(I) with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”^(J)

¹¹ So they put slave masters^(K) over them to oppress them with forced labor,^(L) and they built Pithom and Rameses^(M) as store cities^(N) for Pharaoh. ¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites ¹³ and worked them ruthlessly.^{(O) 14} They made their lives bitter with harsh labor^(P) in brick^(Q) and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.^(R)

Protection of Property

22 ^[a]“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back^(A) five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

² “If a thief is caught breaking in^(B) at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;^{(C) 3} but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution,^(D) but if they have nothing, they must be sold^(E) to pay for their theft. ⁴ If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession^(F)—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.^(G)

⁵ “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution^(H) from the best of their own field or vineyard.

⁶ “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks^(I) of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.^(J)

⁷ “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping^(K) and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.^{(L) 8} But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges,^(M) and they must^[b] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. ⁹ In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.^[c](N) The one whom the judges declare^[d] guilty must pay back double to the other.

¹⁰ “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping^(O) and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, ¹¹ the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath^(P) before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. ¹² But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution^(Q) must be made to the owner. ¹³ If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.^(R)

¹⁴ “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.^{(S) 15} But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.^(T)

Social Responsibility

¹⁶ “If a man seduces a virgin^(U) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price,^(V) and she shall be his wife. ¹⁷ If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

¹⁸ “Do not allow a sorceress^(W) to live.

¹⁹ “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal^(X) is to be put to death.

²⁰ “Whoever sacrifices to any god^(Y) other than the Lord must be destroyed.^[e](Z)

²¹ “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner,^(AA) for you were foreigners^(AB) in Egypt.

²² “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.^{(AC) 23} If you do and they cry out^(AD) to me, I will certainly hear their cry.^{(AE) 24} My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.^(AF)

²⁵ “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.^{(AG) 26} If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,^(AH) return it by sunset, ²⁷ because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in?^(AI) When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.^(AJ)

²⁸ “Do not blaspheme God^[f](AK) or curse^(AL) the ruler of your people.^(AM)

²⁹ “Do not hold back offerings^(AN) from your granaries or your vats.^[g]

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.^{(AO) 30} Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.^(AP) Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.^(AQ)

³¹ “You are to be my holy people.^(AR) So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;^(AS) throw it to the dogs.