Deuteronomy 22:1-18

1If you see another Israelite’s ox or sheep out where it doesn’t belong, don’t pretend that you don’t see it. Make sure you take it back.

2If the owner doesn’t live near you or you don’t know who owns it, take the animal home with you. Keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then give it back.

3Do the same if you find a donkey, some clothes, or anything else that another Israelite may have lost. Don’t pretend that you don’t know what to do.

4If you see another Israelite’s donkey or ox lying on the road, don’t pretend that you don’t see it. Make sure you help him get it back on its feet.

5A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the Lord your God.

6Whenever you’re traveling and find a nest containing chicks or eggs, this is what you must do. If the mother bird is sitting on the nest, never take her with the chicks.

7You may take the chicks, but make sure you let the mother go. Then things will go well for you, and you will live for a long time.

8Whenever you build a new house, put a railing around the edge of the roof. Then you won’t be responsible for a death at your home if someone falls off the roof.

9Never plant anything between the rows in your vineyard. Otherwise, you will have to give everything that grows there to the holy place. This includes the crop you planted and the grapes from the vineyard.

10Never plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together.

11Never wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together.

12Make tassels on the four corners of the shawl you wear over your clothes.

13A man might marry a woman, sleep with her, and decide he doesn’t like her.

14Then he might make up charges against her and ruin her reputation by saying, “I married this woman. But when I slept with her, I found out she wasn’t a virgin.”

15The girl’s father and mother must go to the city gate where the leaders of the city are and submit the evidence that their daughter was a virgin.

16The girl’s father will tell the leaders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he doesn’t like her.

17Now he has made up charges against her. He says he found out that my daughter wasn’t a virgin. But here’s the evidence!” Then the girl’s parents must spread out the cloth in front of the leaders of the city.

18The leaders of that city must take the man and punish him.