The punishment of theft, and other trespasses. The law of lending
without usury, of taking pledges of reverences to superiors, and of
paying tithes.
22:1. If any man steal an ox or a sheep, and kill or sell it: he shall
restore five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep.
22:2. If a thief be found breaking open a house or undermining it, and
be wounded so as to die: he that slew him shall not be guilty of blood.
22:3. But if he did this when the sun is risen, he hath committed
murder, and he shall die. If he have not wherewith to make restitution
for the theft, he shall be sold.
22:4. If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or
ass, or sheep: he shall restore double.
22:5. If any man hurt a field or a vineyard, and put in his beast to
feed upon that which is other men's: he shall restore the best of
whatsoever he hath in his own field, or in his vineyard, according to
the estimation of the damage.
22:6. If a fire breaking out light upon thorns, and catch stacks of
corn, or corn standing in the fields, he that kindled the fire shall
make good the loss.
22:7. If a man deliver money, or any vessel unto his friend to keep, and
they be stolen away from him that received them: if the thief be found,
he shall restore double:
22:8. If the thief be not known, the master of the house shall be
brought to the gods, and shall swear that he did not lay his hand upon
his neighbour's goods,
22:9. To do any fraud, either in ox, or in ass, or sheep, or raiment, or
any thing that may bring damage: the cause of both parties shall come to
the gods: and if they give judgment, he shall restore double to his
neighbour.
22:10. If a man deliver ass, ox, sheep, or any beast, to his neighbour's
custody, and it die, or be hurt, or be taken by enemies, and no man saw
it:
22:11. There shall be an oath between them, that he did not put forth
his hand to his neighbour's goods: and the owner shall accept of the
oath, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution.
22:12. But if it were taken away by stealth, he shall make the loss good
to the owner.
22:13. If it were eaten by a beast, let him bring to him that which was
slain, and he shall not make restitution.
22:14. If a man borrow of his neighbour any of these things, and it be
hurt or die, the owner not being present, he shall be obliged to make
restitution.
22:15. But if the owner be present, he shall not make restitution,
especially if it were hired, and came for the hire of his work.
22:16. If a man seduce a virgin not yet espoused, and lie with her: he
shall endow her, and have her to wife.
22:17. If the maid's father will not give her to him, he shall give
money according to the dowry, which virgins are wont to receive.
22:18. Wizards thou shalt not suffer to live.
22:19. Whosoever copulateth with a beast; shall be put to death.
22:20. He that sacrificeth to gods, shall be put to death, save only to
the Lord.
22:21. Thou shalt not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves
also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22:22. You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan.
22:23. If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their
cry:
22:24. And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the
sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
22:25. If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor, that
dwelleth with thee, thou shalt not be hard upon them as an extortioner,
nor oppress them with usuries.
22:26. If thou take of thy neighbour a garment in pledge, thou shalt
give it him again before sunset.
22:27. For that same is the only thing, wherewith he is covered, the
clothing of his body, neither hath he any other to sleep in: if he cry
to me, I will hear him, because I am compassionate.
22:28. Thou shalt not speak ill of the gods, and the prince of thy
people thou shalt not curse.
22:29. Thou shalt not delay to pay thy tithes and thy firstfruits: thou
shalt give the firstborn of thy sons to me.
22:30. Thou shalt do the same with the firstborn of thy oxen also and
sheep: seven days let it be with its dam: the eighth day thou shalt give
it to me.
22:31. You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted of
before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs.