Exodus 22

1If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must repay five cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

2If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there is no bloodguilt for him.

3But if the sun has risen on him, there is bloodguilt for him. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he is to be sold to pay for his theft.

4If the stolen animal is actually found alive in his possession, whether ox, donkey, or sheep, he must pay back double.

5If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed over and lets his livestock loose so that they graze in another person’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

6If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the whole field is consumed, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.

7If someone gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from that person’s house, the thief, if he is found, must pay back double.

8If the thief is not found, the owner of the house is to come before God to determine whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s property.

9In every case of wrongdoing involving an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything lost, about which someone says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties is to come before God. The one whom God declares guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.

10If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal for safekeeping, and it dies, is injured, or is carried off while no one is looking,

11an oath before Yahweh is to settle the matter between the two of them, that he has not laid his hand on his neighbor’s property. Its owner must accept this, and the neighbor does not have to make restitution.

12But if it was actually stolen from him, he must make restitution to its owner.

13If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, he is to bring it as evidence. He does not have to make restitution for what was torn.

14If someone borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he must make full restitution.

15If its owner was with it, he does not have to make restitution. If it was hired, the hiring fee covers the loss.

16If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price for her and make her his wife.

17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.

18Do not allow a sorceress to live.

19Whoever has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death.

20Whoever sacrifices to any god other than Yahweh alone is to be devoted to destruction.

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

22Do not mistreat any widow or orphan.

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

24and my anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will become widows and your children orphans.

25If you lend money to one of my people among you who is poor, do not act like a moneylender toward him; do not charge him interest.

26If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him before the sun goes down,

27for it is his only covering, the cloak for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.

28Do not revile God, and do not curse a leader of your people.

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

30Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. It is to stay with its mother seven days, and on the eighth day you are to give it to me.

31You are to be holy people for me. Do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts in the field; throw it to the dogs.