Old/New Testament
21 Temporal and civil ordinances appointed by God touching servitude, murders, and wrongs: the observation whereof doth not justify a man, but are given to bridle our corrupt nature, which else would break out into all mischief and cruelty.
1 Now these are the laws, which thou shalt set before them:
2 (A)If thou buy an Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free for [a]nothing.
3 If he [b]came himself alone, he shall go out himself alone: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master hath given him a wife and she hath borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her [c]master’s, but he shall go out himself alone.
5 But if the servant say thus, I love my master, my wife and my children, I will not go out free,
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the [d]Judges, and set him to the [e]door, or to the post, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him [f]forever.
7 Likewise if a man [g]sell his daughter to be a servant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall [h]he cause to buy her: he shall have no power to sell her to a strange people, seeing he [i]despised her.
9 But if he hath betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her [j]according to the custom of the daughters.
10 If he take [k]him another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her raiment, and recompense of her virginity.
11 And if he do not these [l]three unto her, then shall she go out free, paying no money.
12 ¶ (B)He that smiteth a man, and he die, shall die the death.
13 And if a man hath not laid wait, but [m]God hath offered him into his hand, then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, (C)thou shalt take him from mine [n]altar, that he may die.
15 ¶ Also he that smiteth his father or his mother, shall die the death.
16 ¶ And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if it be found with him, shall die the death.
17 ¶ (D)And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall die the death.
18 When men also strive together, and one smite another with a [o]stone, or with the fist, and he die not but lieth in bed.
19 If he rise again and walk without upon his staff, then shall he that smote him go [p]quit, save only he shall bear his charges [q]for his resting, and shall pay for his healing.
20 ¶ And if a man smite his servant, or his maid with a rod, and he die under his hand, he shall be surely punished.
21 But if he continue a day or two days, he shall not [r]be punished: for he is his money.
22 ¶ Also if men strive and hurt a woman with child, so that her child depart from her and [s]death follow not, he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband shall appoint him, or he shall pay as the [t]Judges determine.
23 But if death follow, then thou shalt pay life for life.
24 (E)[u]Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26 ¶ And if a man smite his servant in the eye, or his maid in the eye, and hath perished it, he shall let him go free for his eye.
27 Also if he smite [v]out his servant’s tooth, or his maid’s tooth, he shall let him go out free for his tooth.
28 ¶ If an ox gore a man or a woman that he die, the (F)ox shall be [w]stoned to death, and his flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall go quite.
29 If the ox were wont to push in times past, and it hath been [x]told his master, and he hath not kept him, and after he killeth a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and his owner shall die also.
30 If there be set to him a [y]sum of money, then he shall pay the ransom of his life, whatsoever shall be laid upon him.
31 Whether he hath gored a son, or gored a daughter, he shall be judged after the same manner.
32 If the ox gore a servant or a maid, he shall give unto their master thirty [z]shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
33 ¶ And when a man shall open a well, or when he shall dig a pit and cover it not, and an ox or an ass fall therein,
34 The owner of the pit shall [aa]make it good, and give money to the owner thereof, but the dead beast shall be his.
35 ¶ And if a man’s ox hurt his neighbor’s ox that he die, then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money thereof, and the dead ox also they shall divide.
36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in times past, and his master hath not kept him, he shall pay ox for ox, but the dead shall be his own.
22 1 Of theft. 5 Damage. 7 Lending. 14 Borrowing. 16 Enticing of maids. 18 Witchcraft. 20 Idolatry. 21 Support of strangers, widows, and fatherless. 25 Usury. 28 Reverence to Magistrates.
1 If a man steal an [ab]ox or a sheep, and kill it or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for the ox, (G)and four sheep for the sheep.
2 ¶ If a thief be found [ac]breaking up, and be smitten that he die, no blood shall be shed for him.
3 But if it be [ad]in the daylight, [ae]blood shall be shed for him: for he should make full restitution: if he had not wherewith, then should he be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft be found [af]with him alive, (whether it be ox, ass, or sheep) he shall restore the double.
5 ¶ If a man do hurt field, or vineyard, and put in his beast to feed in another man’s field, he shall recompense of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard.
6 ¶ If fire break out, and catch in the thorns, and the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field be consumed, he that kindled the fire shall make full restitution.
7 ¶ If a man deliver his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of his house, if the thief be found, he shall pay the double.
8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the [ag]Judges to swear, whether he hath [ah]put his hand unto his neighbor’s good, or no.
9 In all manner of trespass, whether it be for oxen, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges, and whom the Judges condemn, he shall pay the double unto the neighbor.
10 If a man deliver unto his neighbor to keep ass, or ox, or sheep, or any beast, and it die, or be [ai]hurt, or taken away by enemies, and no man see it,
11 [aj]An oath of the Lord shall be between them twain, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s good, and the owner of it shall take the oath, and he shall not make it good:
12 (H)But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13 If it be torn in pieces, he shall bring [ak]record, and shall not make that good, which is devoured.
14 ¶ And if a man borrow ought of his neighbor, and it be hurt, or else die, the owner thereof not being by, he shall surely make it good.
15 If the owner thereof be by, he shall not make it good: for if it be an hired thing, it [al]came for his hire.
16 ¶ (I)And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall endow her, and take her to his wife.
17 If her father refuse to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 ¶ Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
19 Whosoever lieth with a beast, shall die the death.
20 ¶ (J)He that offereth unto any gods, save unto the Lord only, shall be slain.
21 ¶ (K)Moreover, thou shalt not do injury to a stranger, neither oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 ¶ (L)Ye shall not trouble any widow, nor fatherless child.
23 If thou vex or trouble such, and so he call and cry unto me, I will surely hear his cry.
24 Then shall my wrath be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your [am]wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 ¶ (M)If thou lend money to my people, that is, to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be as an usurer unto him: ye shall not oppress him with usury.
26 If thou take thy neighbor’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him before the sun go down.
27 For that is his covering only, and this is his garment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? therefore when he [an]crieth unto me, I will hear him: for I am merciful.
28 ¶ (N)Thou shalt not rail upon the Judges, neither speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
29 ¶ Thine [ao]abundance and thy liquor shalt thou not keep back. (O)The firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give me.
30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam, and the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31 ¶ Ye shall be an holy people unto me, (P)neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field: ye shall cast it [ap]to the dog.
19 2 The sick are healed. 3 and 7 A bill of divorcement. 12 Eunuchs. 13 Children brought to Christ. 17 God only good. The commandments must be kept. 21 A perfect man. 23 A rich man. 26 Salvation cometh of God. 27 To leave all and follow Christ.
1 And (A)it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he [a]departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan.
2 And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
3 ¶ [b]Then came unto him the Pharisees tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to [c]put away his wife upon every occasion?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, (B)that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female,
5 And said, (C)For this cause, shall a man leave father and mother, and [d]cleave unto his wife, and they which were [e]two, shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put asunder that, which God hath [f]coupled together.
7 [g]They said to him, Why did then (D) Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He said unto them, Moses, [h]because of the hardness of your heart, [i]suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 I say therefore unto you, (E)that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be [j]for whoredom, and marry another, commiteth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her which is divorced, doth commit adultery.
10 Then said his disciples to him, If the [k]matter be so between man and wife, it is not good to marry.
11 [l]But he said unto them, All men cannot [m]receive this thing, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some [n]eunuchs, which were so born of their mother’s belly: and there be some eunuchs, which be gelded by men: and there be some eunuchs, which have [o]gelded themselves for the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to receive this, let him receive it.
13 ¶ (F)[p]Then were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And when he had put his hands on them, he departed thence.
16 ¶ (G)[q]And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why called thou me good? there is none good but one, even God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments.
18 He said unto him, Which? And Jesus said, (H)These, Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness.
19 Honor thy father, and mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
20 The young man said unto him, I have observed all these things from my youth. What lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If [r]thou wilt be perfect, go, sell that thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, and follow me.
22 And when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 [s]Then Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is [t]easier for a [u]camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 And when his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 And Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
27 ¶ (I)Then answered Peter, and said to him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee: what therefore shall we have?
28 [v]And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say to you, that when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his Majesty, ye which followed me in the [w]regeneration, (J)shall sit also upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And whosoever shall forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Name’s sake, he shall receive an hundredfold more, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 (K)[x]But many that are first, shall be last, and the last shall be first.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.