Property Laws

1“ If a man steals an ox† or a sheep and he slaughters it or sells it, five of the herd he shall repay for the ox, and four sheep for the sheep.

2If the thief is found in the breaking in, and he is struck and he dies, there is no bloodguilt for him. 3If the sun has risen on him, there is bloodguilt for him.

He shall surely repay …; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4If the theft is actually found in his hand alive—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he shall repay double.

5If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and he sends out his animal and it grazes in the field of another man, then from the best of his field and from the best of his vineyard he shall repay.

6If fire goes out and finds thorns, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one who kindled the fire, He shall surely repay.

7If a man gives to his neighbor silver or articles to keep and it is stolen from the house of the man, if the thief is found, he shall repay double. 8If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges† to see if he has not stretched out his hand against the property of his neighbor.

9For every matter of trespass, for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing that one says that this is it, the matter of the two of them shall come before the judges; whomever the judges condemn,† he shall repay double to his neighbor.

10If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey, or an ox, or a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is hurt or is taken captive, without one seeing it, 11an oath of YHWH shall be between the two of them—that he has not stretched out his hand against the property of his neighbor, and its owner shall accept this and he shall not repay.

12But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall repay to its owner.

13If it was torn to pieces, then he shall bring it as a witness of the torn thing. He shall not repay.

14And if a man borrows from his neighbor and it is injured or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely repay. 15If its owner was with it, he shall not repay; if it was hired, it has come for its wages.

Laws of Social Responsibility

16And if a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and he lies with her, he must surely pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, then he shall weigh out silver according to the dowry of virgins.

18A sorceress you shall not permit to live.

19Whoever lies with an animal, he must surely be put to death.

20One who sacrifices to a god—except to YHWH alone—he must be devoted to destruction.†

21And a sojourner you shall not oppress and you shall not crush, for you⁺ were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

22Any widow or fatherless child you⁺ shall not afflict. 23If you really afflict him, then surely if he cries out in distress to Me, I will surely hear his cry. 24And My anger will burn and I will kill you⁺ with the sword, and your⁺ wives shall be widows, and your⁺ sons fatherless.

25If you lend silver to My people, the poor with you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you⁺ shall not lay on him interest.

26If you at all take in pledge the garment of your neighbor, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27For that alone is his covering; it is his garment for his skin. In what will he sleep? And it will be that when he cries out to Me, then I will hear, for I am gracious.

28You shall not revile God,† and a ruler of your people you shall not curse.†

29Your fullness and your juices you shall not delay. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30Likewise you shall do with your oxen and with your sheep. Seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31And you⁺ shall be to Me holy men. And flesh torn in the field you⁺ shall not eat; you⁺ shall throw it to the dog.

Footnotes:

1 Or a bull or a cow; also in verses 4, 9, and 10
8 Or before God; also in verse 9
9 Or whom God condemns
20 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
28 Elohim, translated here as God, is the same term translated as the judges in verses 8 and 9, and also in chapter 21.
28 LXX You shall not revile the gods, nor speak evil about the ruler of your people; cited in Acts 23:5