Exodus 22
Revised Geneva Translation
22 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for the ox, and four sheep for the sheep.
2 “If a thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, no blood shall be shed because of him.
3 “But, if a thief is found in the daylight, blood shall be shed because of him. He should make full restitution. If he does not have it, then he should be sold for his theft.
4 “If the theft is found with him alive, (whether ox, donkey, or sheep) he shall restore it double.5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed and puts in his beast to feed in another man’s field, he shall repay from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard.
6 “If fire breaks out and spreads to the thorns and the stacks of corn (or the standing corn) or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall make full restitution.
7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of his house, if the thief be found, he shall pay double.
8 “If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to determine whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.
9 “In all types of trespass, whether it is for oxen, for donkeys, for sheep, for clothing, or for any type of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both shall come before the judges. Whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to the neighbor.
10 “If a man gives his donkey, or ox, or sheep, or any beast, to his neighbor to keep and it dies (or is hurt, or taken away by enemies) and no one sees it,
11 “an oath of the LORD shall be between the two of them that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods. And the owner of it shall take the oath; and he shall not seek restitution.
12 “But, if it is stolen from the neighbor, he shall make restitution to the owner thereof.
13 “If it is torn to pieces, he shall bring evidence and shall not be required to make restitution for that which was devoured.
14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor and it is injured or dies, and the owner thereof is not there, he shall surely make restitution.
15 “If the owner thereof is there, he shall not make restitution. For if it is a hired thing, it came for its hire.
16 “And if a man entices a maid who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall endow her and take her as his wife.
17 “If her father refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a witch to live.
19 “Whoever lies with an animal, shall die the death.
20 “He who offers to any god other than the LORD alone, shall be designated for destruction.
21 “Moreover, you shall not do injury to a stranger, nor oppress him. For you were both strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 “You shall not trouble any widow or fatherless child.
23 “If you afflict or trouble such, so that he calls and cries to Me, I will surely hear his cry.
24 “Then, My wrath be shall kindled; and I will kill you with the sword. And your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 “If you lend money to My people who are poor among you, you shall not be as a moneylender to him. You shall not oppress him with usury.
26 “If you take your neighbor’s clothing as a pledge, you shall restore it to him before the Sun goes down.
27 “For that is his only covering. It is his garment for his skin. In what shall he sleep? Therefore, when he cries to Me, I will hear him. For I am merciful.
28 “You shall not revile the judges, nor speak evil of the ruler of your people.
29 “You shall not hold back your abundance or your liquor. You shall give Me the firstborn of your sons.
30 “You shall do likewise with your oxen and with your sheep. For seven days it shall be with its mother, and the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
31 “You shall be a holy people to Me. You shall not eat any flesh that has been torn by beasts in the field. You shall cast it to the dog.”
Exodus 22
Amplified Bible
Property Rights
22 “If a man steals an ox or sheep and kills or sells it, he shall make restitution of five oxen for an ox or four sheep for a sheep.
2 “If a thief is caught breaking in [after dark] and is struck [by the owner] so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. 3 But if the sun has risen, there will be bloodguilt for him. The thief [if he lives] must make [full] restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold [as a slave to make restitution] for his theft. 4 If the animal that he stole is found alive in his possession, whether it is ox or donkey or sheep, he shall pay double [for it].
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed bare or lets his livestock loose so that it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
6 “If fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes so that the stacked grain or standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or [other] goods to keep [for him while he is away] and it is stolen from the neighbor’s house, then, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double [for it]. 8 If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall appear before the judges [who act in God’s name], to determine whether or not he had stolen his neighbor’s goods. 9 For every offense involving property, whether it concerns ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any piece of lost property, which another identifies as his, the case of both parties shall come before the judges [who act in God’s name]. Whomever the judges pronounce guilty shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any [other] animal to keep [for him], and it dies or is injured or taken away while no one is looking, 11 then an oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them that he has not taken his neighbor’s property; and the owner of it shall accept his word and not require him to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him [when in his care], he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn to pieces [by some predator or by accident], let him bring the mangled carcass as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what was torn to pieces.
14 “And if a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it gets injured or dies while its owner is not with it, the borrower shall make full restitution. 15 But if the owner is with it [when the damage is done], the borrower shall not make restitution. If it was hired, the damage is included in [the price of] its fee.
Various Laws
16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry (marriage price) for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must [still] pay money equivalent to the dowry of virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a woman who practices sorcery to live.
19 “Whoever lies with an animal must be put to death.(A)
20 “He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be put under a ban (designated) for destruction (execution).
21 “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not harm or oppress any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you harm or oppress them in any way, and they cry at all to Me [for help], I will most certainly hear their cry; 24 and My wrath shall be kindled and burn; I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “If you lend money to any one of My people with you who is poor, you shall not act as a creditor (professional moneylender) to him; you shall not charge him interest. 26 If you ever take your [poor] neighbor’s robe in pledge, you must return it to him before sunset, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his clothing for his body. In what shall he sleep? And when he cries to Me [for help], I will hear him, for I am compassionate and gracious.
28 “You shall not curse God, nor curse the ruler of your people [since he administers God’s law].(B)
29 “You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. You shall give (consecrate, dedicate) to Me the firstborn of your sons.(C) 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it [as an offering] to Me.
31 “You shall be [a]holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat meat [from any animal] that has been torn to pieces [by predators] in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:31 The commandments given to Israel by the Lord were designed in part to separate them from the world and identify them as His chosen people.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
