Exodus 22:16–23:9

Moral and Ceremonial Principles

16 n“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the obride-price of virgins.

18 p“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

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

20 r“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21 s“You shall neither mistreat a 2stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22 t“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they ucry at all to Me, I will surely vhear their cry; 24 and My wwrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; xyour wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

25 y“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him zinterest. 26 aIf you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am bgracious.

28 c“You shall not revile God, nor curse a druler of your people.

29 “You shall not delay to offer ethe first of your ripe produce and your juices. fThe firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 gLikewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother hseven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “And you shall be iholy men to Me: jyou shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Justice for All

23 “You ashall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an bunrighteous witness. 2 cYou shall not follow a crowd to do evil; dnor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. 3 You shall not show partiality to a epoor man in his dispute.

4 f“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 gIf you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.

6 h“You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. 7 iKeep yourself far from a false matter; jdo not kill the innocent and righteous. For kI will not justify the wicked. 8 And lyou shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.

9 “Also myou shall not oppress a 1stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.