Laws on property and social obligations
Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession — whether ox or donkey or sheep — they must pay back double. If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another person's field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard. If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution. If anyone gives a neighbour silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbour's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has taken the neighbour's property. In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, This is mine, both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other. If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbour for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbour did not lay hands on the other person's property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. But if the animal was stolen from the neighbour, restitution must be made to the owner. If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbour shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal. If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbour and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution. But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss. If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins. Do not allow a sorceress to live. Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death. Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed. Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. If you take your neighbour's cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, because that cloak is the only covering your neighbour has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day. You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.
Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft.
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession — whether ox or donkey or sheep — they must pay back double.
If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another person's field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard.
If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
If anyone gives a neighbour silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbour's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has taken the neighbour's property.
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, This is mine, both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other.
For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, 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 shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbour for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking,
If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbour did not lay hands on the other person's property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required.
Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
But if the animal was stolen from the neighbour, restitution must be made to the owner.
And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbour shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.
If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbour and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.
And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.
But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.
And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
Do not allow a sorceress to live.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.
Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.
He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.
If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.
And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
If you take your neighbour's cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset,
If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
because that cloak is the only covering your neighbour has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.