Deuteronomy 25:2-3

New International Version

² If the guilty person deserves to be beaten,^(A) the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves, ³ but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes.^(B) If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes.^(C)