Exodus 21-22
New American Standard Bible
Ordinances for the People
21 “Now these are the (A)ordinances which you are to set before them:
2 “If you buy (B)a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you. 3 If he comes [a]alone, he shall leave [b]alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall leave with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave [c]alone. 5 But (C)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to [d]God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an [e]awl; and he shall serve him permanently.
7 “Now (D)if a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to [f]go free (E)as the male slaves [g]do. 8 If she is [h]displeasing in the eyes of her master [i]who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people, because of his [j]unfairness to her. 9 And if he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her [k]food, her clothing, or (F)her conjugal rights. 11 But if he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go [l]free for nothing, without payment of money.
Personal Injuries
12 “(G)He who strikes someone so that he dies shall certainly be put to death. 13 (H)Yet [m]if he did not lie in wait for him, but (I)God caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. 14 (J)If, however, someone is enraged against his neighbor, so as to kill him in a cunning way, you are to take him even from My altar, to be put to death.
15 “And one who strikes his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.
16 “Now (K)one who [n]kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his [o]possession, shall certainly be put to death.
17 “And (L)one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.
18 “Now if people have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but [p]is confined to bed, 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his [q]loss of time, and [r]shall pay for his care until he is completely healed.
20 “And if someone strikes his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies [s]at his hand, he shall [t]be punished. 21 If, however, the slave [u]survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; (M)for the slave is his [v]property.
22 “Now if people struggle with each other and strike a pregnant woman so that [w]she gives birth prematurely, but there is no injury, the guilty person shall certainly be fined as the woman’s husband [x]may demand of him, and he shall (N)pay [y]as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, (O)then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 (P)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, [z]bruise for bruise.
26 “And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let [aa]the slave go free on account of the eye. 27 And if he [ab]knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let [ac]the slave go free on account of the tooth.
28 “Now if an ox gores a man or a woman [ad]to death, (Q)the ox shall certainly be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. 29 If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is [ae]demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is [af]demanded of him. 31 Whether it gores a son or [ag]a daughter, it shall be done to him according to [ah]the same rule. 32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, [ai]the owner shall give his or her master [aj](R)thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
Property Rights
33 “Now if someone opens a pit, or [ak]digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall [al]give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.
35 “And if someone’s ox injures another’s ox so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its proceeds equally; and they shall also divide the dead ox. 36 Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he must make restitution of ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.
Property Rights
22 “[am]If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and (S)four sheep for the sheep— 2 [an]If the (T)thief is [ao]caught while [ap]breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account—A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be (U)sold for his theft. 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his [aq]possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, (V)he shall pay double.
5 “If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
7 “(W)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [ar]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [as]caught, then the thief shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not [at]caught, then the owner of the house shall [au]appear before [av](X)the judges, to determine whether he [aw]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 For every [ax]breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the [ay]case of both parties shall come before [az](Y)the judges; he whom [ba]the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an (Z)oath before the Lord shall be [bb]taken by the two of them [bc]that he has not [bd]laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.
14 “And if someone [be]borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it [bf]came by its hire.
Various Laws
16 “(AA)If a man seduces a virgin who is not [bg]betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [bh]dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [bi]pay money equal to the (AB)dowry for virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a (AC)sorceress to live.
19 “(AD)Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.
20 “(AE)He who sacrifices to [bj]any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [bk]utterly destroyed.
21 “(AF)You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 (AG)You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and (AH)if he does cry out to Me, (AI)I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, (AJ)and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “(AK)If you lend money to My people, to the poor [bl]among you, you are not to [bm]act as a creditor to him; you shall not [bn]charge him (AL)interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak (AM)as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his [bo]body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that (AN)when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for (AO)I am gracious.
28 “You shall not [bp](AP)curse God, (AQ)nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 “(AR)You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your [bq]wine. (AS)The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 (AT)You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; (AU)on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
31 “(AV)You shall be holy people to Me, therefore (AW)you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 21:3 Lit by himself
- Exodus 21:3 Lit by himself
- Exodus 21:4 Lit by himself
- Exodus 21:6 Or the judges (who acted in God’s name)
- Exodus 21:6 I.e., a pointed tool
- Exodus 21:7 Lit go out
- Exodus 21:7 Lit go out
- Exodus 21:8 Lit bad
- Exodus 21:8 Another reading is so that he did not designate her
- Exodus 21:8 Lit dealing treacherously
- Exodus 21:10 Lit flesh
- Exodus 21:11 Lit out
- Exodus 21:13 Lit he who
- Exodus 21:16 Lit steals
- Exodus 21:16 Lit hand
- Exodus 21:18 Lit lies in
- Exodus 21:19 Lit his sitting
- Exodus 21:19 Lit healing, he shall cause to be healed
- Exodus 21:20 Lit under
- Exodus 21:20 Lit suffer vengeance
- Exodus 21:21 Lit stands
- Exodus 21:21 Lit money
- Exodus 21:22 Or an untimely birth occurs; lit her children come out
- Exodus 21:22 Lit lays on him
- Exodus 21:22 Lit by arbitration
- Exodus 21:25 Lit welt
- Exodus 21:26 Lit him go...his eye
- Exodus 21:27 Lit causes to fall
- Exodus 21:27 Lit him go...his tooth
- Exodus 21:28 Lit so that he dies
- Exodus 21:30 Lit laid on him
- Exodus 21:30 Lit laid on him
- Exodus 21:31 Lit gores a daughter
- Exodus 21:31 Lit this judgment
- Exodus 21:32 Lit he
- Exodus 21:32 About 15 oz. or 425 gm
- Exodus 21:33 Lit if a man digs
- Exodus 21:34 Lit give back
- Exodus 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Heb
- Exodus 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Heb
- Exodus 22:2 Lit found
- Exodus 22:2 I.e., at night; cf. v 3
- Exodus 22:4 Lit hand
- Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
- Exodus 22:7 Lit found
- Exodus 22:8 Lit found
- Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
- Exodus 22:8 Or God
- Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
- Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
- Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
- Exodus 22:9 Or God
- Exodus 22:9 Or God
- Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
- Exodus 22:11 Lit if
- Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
- Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
- Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss
- Exodus 22:16 A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together
- Exodus 22:16 I.e., bride-price
- Exodus 22:17 Lit weigh out silver
- Exodus 22:20 Lit the gods
- Exodus 22:20 Lit put under the ban
- Exodus 22:25 Lit with
- Exodus 22:25 Lit be
- Exodus 22:25 Lit lay upon
- Exodus 22:27 Lit skin
- Exodus 22:28 Or revile
- Exodus 22:29 Lit juice
Psalm 12
New American Standard Bible
God, a Helper against the Treacherous.
For the music director; [a]upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.
12 Help, Lord, for (A)the godly person has come to an end,
For the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind.
2 They (B)speak [b]lies to one another;
They speak with [c](C)flattering lips and a double heart.
3 May the Lord cut off all [d]flattering lips,
The tongue that (D)speaks great things;
4 Who (E)have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are [e]our own; who is lord over us?”
5 “Because of the (F)devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now (G)I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will (H)put him in the safety for which he longs.”
6 The (I)words of the Lord are pure words;
Like silver (J)refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times.
7 You, Lord, will keep them;
You will (K)protect him from this generation forever.
8 The (L)wicked strut about on every side
When [f](M)vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.
Footnotes
- Psalm 12 Title Or according to a lower octave (Heb Sheminith)
- Psalm 12:2 Lit worthless speech
- Psalm 12:2 Lit a smooth lip
- Psalm 12:3 Lit a smooth lip
- Psalm 12:4 Lit with us
- Psalm 12:8 Or worthlessness
Acts 4
New American Standard Bible
Peter and John Arrested
4 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and (A)the captain of the temple guard and (B)the Sadducees (C)came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming [a](D)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and (E)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the [b]message believed; and (F)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 On the next day, their (G)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and (H)Annas the high priest was there, and (I)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, [c](J)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “[d](K)Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are [e]on trial today for (L)a benefit done to a sick man, as to [f]how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that [g](M)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom (N)God raised from the dead—[h]by [i]this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 [j](O)He is the (P)stone which was (Q)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in (R)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
Threat and Release
13 Now as they observed the (S)confidence of (T)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and (U)began to recognize them [k]as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the [l](V)Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “(W)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a (X)noteworthy [m]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person (Y)in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they (Z)commanded them not to speak or teach at all [n]in the name of Jesus. 19 But (AA)Peter and John answered and said to them, “(AB)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for (AC)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) (AD)on account of the people, because they were all (AE)glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man on whom this [o]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[p]Lord, it is You who (AF)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who (AG)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘(AH)Why were the [q]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?
26 (AI)The kings of the earth [r]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [s](AJ)Christ.’
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [t](AK)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both (AL)Herod and (AM)Pontius Pilate, along with (AN)the [u]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and (AO)purpose predestined to occur. 29 And [v]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to (AP)speak Your word with all (AQ)confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and [w](AR)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy [x](AS)servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the (AT)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all (AU)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (AV)speak the word of God with (AW)boldness.
Sharing among Believers
32 And the [y]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [z]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but (AX)all things were common property to them. 33 And (AY)with great power the apostles were giving (AZ)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses (BA)would sell them and bring the [aa]proceeds of the sales 35 and (BB)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be (BC)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.
36 Now Joseph, a Levite of (BD)Cyprian birth, who was also called (BE)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of [ab](BF)Encouragement), 37 [ac]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and (BG)laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Footnotes
- Acts 4:2 Or in the case of
- Acts 4:4 Lit word
- Acts 4:8 Or having just been filled
- Acts 4:8 Lit Rulers of the people and elders
- Acts 4:9 Lit answering
- Acts 4:9 Or by what; or by whom
- Acts 4:10 Or in
- Acts 4:10 Or in
- Acts 4:10 Or Him
- Acts 4:11 Lit This One
- Acts 4:13 Lit that they had been
- Acts 4:15 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 4:16 Or sign
- Acts 4:18 Or on the basis of
- Acts 4:22 Or sign
- Acts 4:24 Or Master
- Acts 4:25 Or Gentiles
- Acts 4:26 Or approached
- Acts 4:26 I.e., Messiah
- Acts 4:27 Or Son
- Acts 4:27 Or nations
- Acts 4:29 Or as for the present situation
- Acts 4:30 I.e., confirming miracles
- Acts 4:30 Or Son
- Acts 4:32 Or community; lit multitude
- Acts 4:32 Lit was saying
- Acts 4:34 Lit the prices of the things being sold
- Acts 4:36 Or Exhortation; or Consolation
- Acts 4:37 Lit a tract...belonging to him, he sold...
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