Exodus 22
22
1 # 22:1
Exodus 22:1–31
in English Bibles is Exodus 21:37–22:30 in the Hebrew Bible. ⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Whenever someone steals a bull or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must make up for the loss with five head of cattle to replace the bull or four sheep to replace the sheep.
2“If anyone catches a thief breaking in and hits him so that he dies, he is not guilty of murder. 3But if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of murder.
“A thief must make up for what he has stolen. If he is unable to do so, he must be sold ⌞as a slave⌟ to pay for what he stole. 4But if the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it’s a bull, donkey, or a sheep, he must make up for the loss with double the amount.
5“Whenever someone lets his livestock graze in a field or a vineyard, and they stray and graze in another person’s field, he must make up for what the damaged field was expected to produce. But if he lets them ruin the whole field with their grazing,#22:5 “he must make … grazing” Greek, Samaritan Pentateuch, Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text omits these words. he must make up from his own field for the loss with the best from his field and vineyard.
6“Whenever a fire starts and spreads into the underbrush so that it burns up stacked or standing grain or ruins a field, the person who started the fire must make up for the loss.
7“This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor silver or ⌞other⌟ valuables to keep for him, and they are stolen from that person’s house: If the thief is caught, he must make up for the loss with double the amount. 8If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must be brought to God to find out whether or not he took his neighbor’s valuables. 9If there is a dispute over the ownership of a bull, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, or any ⌞other⌟ lost property which two people claim as their own, both people must bring their case to God. The one whom God declares guilty must make up for his neighbor’s loss with double the amount.
10“This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a sheep, or any other kind of animal to keep for him, and it dies, is injured, or is captured in war, and there are no witnesses. 11The case between them must be settled by swearing an oath to the Lord that the neighbor did not take the other person’s animal. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor doesn’t have to make up for the loss. 12But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, he must make up for the owner’s loss. 13If it was killed by a wild animal, he must bring in the dead body as evidence. He doesn’t have to make up for an animal that has been killed.
14“Whenever someone borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, the borrower must make up for the loss. 15If the owner is with the animal, the borrower doesn’t have to make up for the loss. If it is rented, the rental fee covers the loss.
Laws for Living as God’s Holy People
16“Whenever a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sexual intercourse with her, he must pay the bride-price and marry her. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must pay an amount of money equal to the bride-price for virgins.
18“Never let a witch live.
19“Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.
20“Whoever sacrifices to any god except the Lord must be condemned and destroyed.
21“Never mistreat or oppress foreigners, because you were foreigners living in Egypt.
22“Never take advantage of any widow or orphan. 23If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I will hear their cry. 24I will become angry and have you killed in combat. Then your wives and children will become widows and orphans.
25“If you lend money to my people—to any poor person among you—never act like a moneylender. Charge no interest. 26If you take any of your neighbor’s clothes as collateral, give it back to him by sunset. 27It may be the only clothes he has to cover his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will listen because I am compassionate.
28“Never show disrespect for God or curse a leader of your people.
29“Never withhold your best wine from me.
“You must give me your firstborn son. 30You must do the same with your cattle and your sheep. They will stay with their mothers seven days, but on the eighth day you must give them to me.
31“You must be my holy people. Never eat the meat of an animal that has been killed by wild animals out in the countryside. Throw it to the dogs.”
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Exodus 22
22
Laws About Keeping Property Safe
1“Suppose someone steals an ox or a sheep. And suppose that person kills it or sells it. Then the thief must pay back five oxen for the ox. Or the thief must pay back four sheep for the sheep.
2“Suppose you catch a thief breaking into your house at night. And suppose you hit the thief and the thief dies. Then you are not guilty of murder. 3But suppose it happens after the sun has come up. Then you are guilty of murder.
“Anyone who steals must pay for whatever they steal. But suppose the thief does not have anything. Then the thief must be sold to pay for what was stolen. 4What if the stolen ox, donkey or sheep is found alive with the thief? Then the thief must pay back twice as much.
5“Suppose someone lets their livestock eat grass in someone else’s field or vineyard. Then they must pay that person back from the best crops of their own field or vineyard.
6“Suppose a fire breaks out and spreads into bushes. Suppose it burns cut and stacked grain or grain that is still growing. Or suppose it burns the whole field. Then the one who started the fire must pay for the loss.
7“Suppose someone gives a neighbor silver or other things to keep safe. And suppose they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. The thief, if caught, must pay back twice as much as was stolen. 8But suppose the thief is not found. Then the neighbor must go to the judges. They will decide whether the neighbor has stolen the other person’s property. 9Suppose you have an ox, donkey, sheep or clothing that does not belong to you. Or you have other property lost by someone else. And suppose someone says, ‘That belongs to me.’ Then both people must bring their case to the judges. The one the judges decide is guilty must pay back twice as much to the other person.
10“Suppose someone asks their neighbor to take care of a donkey, ox, sheep or any other animal. And suppose the animal dies or gets hurt. Or suppose it is stolen while no one is looking. 11Then the problem will be settled by promising the Lord to tell the truth. Suppose the neighbor says, ‘I didn’t steal your property.’ Then the owner must accept what the neighbor says. No payment is required. 12But suppose the animal really was stolen. Then the neighbor must pay the owner back. 13Or suppose it was torn to pieces by a wild animal. Then the neighbor must bring in what is left as proof. No payment is required.
14“Suppose someone borrows an animal from their neighbor. And it gets hurt or dies while the owner is not there. Then the borrower must pay for it. 15But suppose the owner is with the animal. Then the borrower will not have to pay. If the borrower hired the animal, the money paid to hire it covers the loss.
Laws About Social Problems
16“Suppose a man meets a virgin who is not engaged. And he talks her into having sex with him. Then he must pay her father the price for a bride. And he must marry her. 17But suppose her father absolutely refuses to give her to him. Then he must still pay the price for getting married to a virgin.
18“Do not let a woman who does evil magic stay alive. Put her to death.
19“Anyone who has sex with an animal must be put to death.
20“Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.
21“Do not treat outsiders badly. Do not give them a hard time. Remember, you were outsiders in Egypt.
22“Do not take advantage of widows. Do not take advantage of children whose fathers have died. 23If you do, they might cry out to me. I will certainly hear them. 24And I will get angry. I will kill you with a sword. Your wives will become widows. Your children’s fathers will die.
25“Suppose you lend money to one of my people among you who is in need. Then do not treat it like a business deal. Do not charge any interest at all. 26Suppose your neighbor owes you money and gives you a coat as a promise to pay it back. Then return it by sunset. 27That coat is the only thing your neighbor owns to wear or sleep in. When they cry out to me, I will listen, because I am loving and kind.
28“Do not speak evil things against God. Do not curse the ruler of your people.
29“Do not keep for yourself your grain offerings or wine offerings.
“You must give me the oldest of your sons. 30Do the same with your cattle and sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days. But give them to me on the eighth day.
31“I want you to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of any animal that has been torn by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.
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