(A)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [a]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [b]caught, then the thief shall pay double. If the thief is not [c]caught, then the owner of the house shall [d]appear before [e](B)the judges, to determine whether he [f]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. For every [g]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 [h]case of both parties shall come before [i](C)the judges; he whom [j]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 (D)oath before the Lord shall be [k]taken by the two of them [l]that he has not [m]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 [n]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 [o]came by its hire.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
  2. Exodus 22:7 Lit found
  3. Exodus 22:8 Lit found
  4. Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
  5. Exodus 22:8 Or God
  6. Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
  7. Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
  8. Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
  9. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  10. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  11. Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
  12. Exodus 22:11 Lit if
  13. Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
  14. Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
  15. Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss

Laws about Personal Property

“When a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep, but they are stolen from that person’s house, the thief, if caught, must repay double. If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must present himself to the judges[a] to determine[b] whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property.(A) In any case of wrongdoing involving an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything else lost, and someone claims, ‘That’s mine,’[c] the case between the two parties is to come before the judges.[d] The one the judges condemn[e] must repay double to his neighbor.

10 “When a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to care for, but it dies, is injured, or is stolen, while no one is watching, 11 there must be an oath before the Lord between the two of them to determine whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property. Its owner must accept the oath, and the other man does not have to make restitution. 12 But if, in fact, the animal was stolen from his custody, he must make restitution to its owner.(B) 13 If it was actually torn apart by a wild animal, he is to bring it as evidence; he does not have to make restitution for the torn carcass.

14 “When a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not there with it, the man must make full restitution. 15 If its owner is there with it, the man does not have to make restitution. If it was rented, the loss is covered by[f] its rental price.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 22:8 Or to God
  2. Exodus 22:8 LXX, Tg, Vg read swear
  3. Exodus 22:9 Lit That is it
  4. Exodus 22:9 Or before God
  5. Exodus 22:9 Or one whom God condemns
  6. Exodus 22:15 Lit rented, it comes with