Exodus 22:2–31

²“If a thief is caught breaking in^x at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;^{y 3}but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution,^z but if they have nothing, they must be sold^a to pay for their theft. ⁴If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession^b—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.^c

⁵“If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution^d from the best of their own field or vineyard.

⁶“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks^e of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.^f

⁷“If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping^g and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.^{h 8}But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges,ⁱ and they must^b determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. ⁹In 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.^cj The one whom the judges declare^d guilty must pay back double to the other.

¹⁰“If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping^k and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, ¹¹the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath^l 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. ¹²But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution^m must be made to the owner. ¹³If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.ⁿ

¹⁴“If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.^{o 15}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.^p

Social Responsibility

¹⁶“If a man seduces a virgin^q who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price,^r and she shall be his wife. ¹⁷If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

¹⁸“Do not allow a sorceress^s to live.

¹⁹“Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal^t is to be put to death.

²⁰“Whoever sacrifices to any god^u other than the Lord must be destroyed.^ev

²¹“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner,^w for you were foreigners^x in Egypt.

²²“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.^{y 23}If you do and they cry out^z to me, I will certainly hear their cry.^{a 24}My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.^b

²⁵“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.^{c 26}If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,^d return it by sunset, ²⁷because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in?^e When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.^f

²⁸“Do not blaspheme God^fg or curse^h the ruler of your people.ⁱ

²⁹“Do not hold back offerings^j from your granaries or your vats.^g

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.^{k 30}Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.^l Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.^m

³¹“You are to be my holy people.ⁿ So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;^o throw it to the dogs.