CHAPTER 22
If
a man
steals
an ox
or
a sheep
and slaughters
or
sells it,
he must repay
five
oxen
for
an ox
and four
sheep
for a sheep.
But if
it happens after sunrise,
there is guilt for his bloodshed.
A thief must make full restitution;
if
he has nothing,
he himself shall be sold
for his theft.
If what was stolen
is actually found
alive
in his possession—
whether ox
or
donkey
or
sheep—
he must pay back
double.
If
a man
grazes his livestock
in a field
or
vineyard
and allows them
to stray
so that they graze
in someone else’s
field,
he must make restitution
from the best
of his own field
or vineyard.
If
a fire
breaks out
and spreads
to thornbushes
so that it consumes
stacked
or
standing grain,
or
the whole field,
the one who started
the fire
must make full restitution.
If
a man
gives
his neighbor
money
or
goods
for safekeeping
and they are stolen
from the neighbor’s
house,
the thief,
if
caught,
must pay back
double.
If
the thief
is not
found,
the owner
of the house
must appear
before
the judges
to determine whether
he has taken
his neighbor’s
property.
In
all
cases
of illegal possession
of
an ox,
a donkey,
a sheep,
a garment,
or any
lost item
that
someone claims,
‘This
is mine,’
both parties
shall bring
their cases
before
the judges.
The one whom the judges
condemn
must pay back
double
to his neighbor.
If
a man
gives
a donkey,
an ox,
a sheep,
or any
other animal
to be cared for
by his neighbor,
but it dies
or
is injured
or
stolen
while no
one is watching,
an oath
before the LORD
shall be made
between
the parties
to determine whether
or not
the man has taken
his neighbor’s
property.
The owner
must accept the oath
and require no
restitution.
If
it was torn to pieces,
he shall bring
it as evidence;
he need not
make restitution
for the torn carcass.
If
a man
borrows
an animal
from his neighbor
and it is injured
or
dies
while its owner
is not
present,
he must make full restitution.
If
the owner
was present,
no
restitution is required.
If
the animal
was rented,
the fee covers the loss.
If
a man
seduces
a virgin
who
is not
pledged in marriage
and sleeps
with her,
he must pay the full dowry
for her
to be his wife.
If
her father
absolutely refuses
to give her
to him,
he still must pay
an amount comparable
to the bridal price
of a virgin.
You must not
exploit
or
oppress
a foreign resident,
for
you yourselves were
foreigners
in the land
of Egypt.
My anger
will be kindled,
and I will kill
you with the sword;
then your wives
will become
widows
and your children
will be fatherless.
If
you lend
money
to one of my people
among you
who is poor,
you must not
act
as a creditor
to him;
you are not to charge
him
any interest.
because
his cloak
is the only
covering
he has
for
his body.
What else
will he sleep in?
And if
he cries out
to Me,
I will hear,
for
I
am compassionate.
You must not
hold back
offerings from your granaries
or vats.
You are to give
Me
the firstborn
of your sons.
You shall do
likewise
with your cattle
and your sheep.
Let them stay
with
their mothers
for seven
days,
but on the eighth
day
you are to give them
to Me.
You are to be
My
holy
people.
You must not
eat
the meat
of a mauled animal
found in the field;
you are to throw
it
to the dogs.