Property Laws

1And if one steal an ox or a sheep, and kill it or sell it, he shall pay five calves for a calf, and four sheep for a sheep.

2And if the thief be found in the breach made by himself and be smitten and die, there shall not be blood shed for him. 3But if the sun be risen upon him, he is guilty, he shall die instead; and if a thief have nothing, let him be sold in compensation for what he has stolen. 4And if the thing stolen be left and be in his hand alive, whether ox or sheep, he shall restore them two-fold.

5And if any one should feed down a field or a vineyard, and should send in his beast to feed down another field, he shall make compensation of his own field according to his produce; and if he shall have fed down the whole field, he shall pay for compensation the best of his own field and the best of his vineyard.

6And if fire have gone forth and caught thorns, and should also set on fire threshing-floors or ears of corn or a field, he that kindled the fire shall make compensation.

7And if any one give to his neighbour money or goods to keep, and they be stolen out of the man's house, if the thief be found he shall repay double. 8But if the thief be not found, the master of the house shall come forward before God, and shall swear that surely he has not wrought wickedly in regard of any part of his neighbour's deposit, 9according to every injury alleged, both concerning a calf, and an ass, and a sheep, and a garment, and every alleged loss, whatsoever in fact it may be, —the judgment of both shall proceed before God, and he that is convicted by God shall repay to his neighbour double.

10And if any one give to his neighbour to keep a calf or sheep or any beast, and it be wounded or die or be taken, and no one know, 11an oath of God shall be between both, each swearing that he has surely not at all been guilty in the matter of his neighbour's deposit; and so his master shall hold him guiltless, and he shall not make compensation. 12And if it be stolen from him, he shall make compensation to the owner. 13And if it be seized of beasts, he shall bring him to witness the prey, and he shall not make compensation.

14And if any one borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be wounded or die or be carried away, and the owner of it be not with it, he shall make compensation. 15But if the owner be with it, he shall not make compensation: but if it be a hired thing, there shall be a compensation to him instead of his hire.

Laws of Social Responsibility

16And if any one deceive a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her for a wife to himself. 17And if her father positively refuse, and will not consent to give her to him for a wife, he shall pay compensation to her father according to the amount of the dowry of virgins.

18Ye shall not save the lives of sorcerers.

19Every one that lies with a beast ye shall surely put to death.

20He that sacrifices to any gods but to the Lord alone, shall be destroyed by death.

21And ye shall not hurt a stranger, nor afflict him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22Ye shall hurt no widow or orphan. 23And if ye should afflict them by ill-treatment, and they should cry aloud to me, I will surely hear their voice. 24And I will be very angry, and will slay you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children orphans.

25And if thou shouldest lend money to thy poor brother who is by thee, thou shalt not be hard upon him thou shalt not exact usury of him. 26And if thou take thy neighbour's garment for a pledge, thou shalt restore it to him before sunset. 27For this is his clothing, this is the only covering of his nakedness; wherein shall he sleep? If then he shall cry to me, I will hearken to him, for I am merciful.

28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor speak ill of the ruler of thy people.

29Thou shalt not keep back the first-fruits of thy threshing floor and press. The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give to me. 30So shalt thou do with thy calf and thy sheep and thine ass; seven days shall it be under the mother, and the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.

31And ye shall be holy men to me; and ye shall not eat flesh taken of beasts, ye shall cast it to the dog.