Exodus 22

¹ "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.

² "If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that they die, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;

³ but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. "Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, and if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft.

⁴ If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.

⁵ "If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray so that they graze in someone else's field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard.

⁶ "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.

⁷ "If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.

⁸ But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before God to determine whether they have laid hands on the other person's property.

⁹ In every case of disputed ownership—an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, 'This is mine'—both parties are to bring their case before God. The one whom God declares guilty must pay back double to the other.

¹⁰ "If anyone gives a neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or driven away while no one is looking,

¹¹ the matter between them is to be settled by an oath before the LORD that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person's property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required.

¹² But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner.

¹³ If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor is to bring the remains as evidence and need not pay for the torn animal.

¹⁴ "If anyone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, full restitution must be made.

¹⁵ But if the owner is present, no restitution is required. If the animal was hired, the hire covers the loss.

¹⁶ "If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she will be his wife.

¹⁷ If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the price for a bride.

¹⁸ "Do not allow a sorceress to live.

¹⁹ "Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.

²⁰ "Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone is to be set apart for destruction.

²¹ "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.

²² "Do not take advantage of any widow or orphan.

²³ If you do mistreat them and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.

²⁴ My anger will blaze, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

²⁵ "If you lend money to one of my people among you who is poor, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.

²⁶ If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset,

²⁷ because that cloak is the only covering they have for their body. What else will they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

²⁸ "Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

²⁹ "Do not hold back offerings from your harvest and your presses. "You must give me the firstborn of your sons.

³⁰ 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.

³¹ "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.