Property Laws
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, no blood shall be required for him. 3 If it is after sunrise, blood shall be required for him. A thief should make full restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the stolen property is found alive in his possession, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.
5 If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and from the best of his own vineyard.
6 If fire breaks out and catches in thorn bushes so that the stacked grain, or the standing grain, or the field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 If a man delivers to his neighbor money or something to keep, and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought before the judges, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbor’s goods.
9 For every matter of trespass, whether it is an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 If a man delivers a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to his neighbor, to keep, and it dies or is injured, or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 the oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods, and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it was torn apart by wild animals, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not be required to make restitution for that which was torn.
14 If a man borrows anything of his neighbor’s, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall surely make restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution. If it is a leased thing, the loss is covered by the rental price.
Laws of Social Responsibility
16 If a man entices a virgin who is not pledged to be married and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
19 Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.
20 He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, shall be utterly destroyed.
21 You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
22 You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry out to me at all, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.
25 If you lend money to any of my people among you who is poor, you shall not be a creditor to him, and you shall not charge him interest. 26 If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering. It is his cloak for his body. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.
28 You shall not blaspheme the Lord, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 You shall not delay in offering the first of your ripe fruits and the outflow of your vintage.
You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me. 30 You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31 You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.”