Exodus 22

Property Rights

1“1If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and 2four sheep for the sheep.

2“3If the 4thief is 5caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. 3But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be 6sold for his theft. 4If what he stole is actually found alive in his 7possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, 8he shall pay double.

5“If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal 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 a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution.

7“9If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is 10caught, he shall pay double. 8If the thief is not 11caught, then the owner of the house shall 12appear before 1314the judges, to determine whether he 15laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9For every 16breach 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 17case of both parties shall come before 1819the judges; he whom 20the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10“If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking, 11an 21oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them 22that he has not 23laid hands on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. 12But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14“If a man 24borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; if it is hired, it came for its hire.

Sundry Laws

16“25If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall 26pay money equal to the 27dowry for virgins.

18“You shall not allow a 28sorceress to live.

19“29Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.

20“30He who sacrifices to 31any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be 32utterly destroyed.

21“33You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 2234You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23If you afflict him at all, and 35if he does cry out to Me, 36I will surely hear his cry; 24and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, 37and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25“38If you lend money to My people, to the poor 39among you, you are not to 40act as a creditor to him; you shall not 41charge him 42interest. 26If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak 43as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his 44body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that 45when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for 46I am gracious.

28“You shall not 4748curse God, 49nor curse a ruler of your people.

29“50You shall not delay the offering from 51your harvest and your vintage. 52The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 3053You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; 54on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31“55You shall be holy men to Me, therefore 56you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.