Exodus 21:22-23:13

Tree of Life Version

²² “If men fight, and hit a pregnant woman so that her child is born early, yet no harm follows, the one who hit her is to be strictly fined, according to what the woman’s husband demands of him. He must pay as the judges determine. ²³ But if any harm follows,^[a] then you are to penalize life for life, ²⁴ eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burn for burn, wound for wound, blow for blow.

²⁶ “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let him go free for the sake of his eyesight. ²⁷ If he strikes out his slave’s tooth, he must let him go free for the sake of his tooth.

²⁸ “If an ox gores a man or a woman so that they die, the ox must surely be stoned, and its meat is not to be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be cleared. ²⁹ If the ox was given to goring in times past, and a warning has been given to its owner, yet he has not kept it pent up, and it has killed a man or a woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death. ³⁰ If instead a ransom is placed on him, then he is to pay for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded. ³¹ Whether it has gored a son or daughter, this rule is to be applied to him. ³² If the ox gores a male or female slave, he is to pay 30 shekels of silver to their master, and the ox is to be stoned.

³³ “If one uncovers a pit or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in, ³⁴ the owner of the pit must pay compensation. He is to give money to the owner, and the dead animal will be his.

³⁵ “If one man’s ox hurts another’s ox so that it dies, they are to sell the live ox and divide the price. They are also to divide the dead one. ³⁶ Or if it becomes known that the ox was given to violence in times past, and its owner has not kept it pent up, he must surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his own. ^37 [b] 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.

23 “Do not to spread a false report. Do not join hands with the wicked by becoming a malicious witness. ² “Do not follow a crowd to do evil. Nor are you to testify in a case, to follow a crowd and pervert justice. ³ On the other hand, nor should you takes sides with a poor man in his case.

⁴ “If you find your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you must surely bring it back to him again. ⁵ If you see the donkey of the one that hates you lying down under its burden, do not leave it. Rather, you are to release it with him.

⁶ “You are not to pervert justice to your poor in his dispute. ⁷ Stay far away from a false charge. Do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not justify the guilty. ⁸ Take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight, and perverts the words of the righteous.

⁹ “Do not oppress an outsider, for you know the heart of an outsider, since you were outsiders in the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ “For six years you are to sow your land and gather the increase. ¹¹ But during the seventh year you are to let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat. Whatever they leave behind, the animals of the field may eat. You are to deal with your vineyard and your olive grove in the same way.

¹² “You are to do your work for six days, but on the seventh day you will rest, so that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and also the son of your handmaid and the outsider may be refreshed.

¹³ “With all the things that I have said to you, take heed. Make no mention of the names of other gods, and do not let them be heard in your mouth.