Exodus 22:1-31, NLT
Exodus 22
Protection of Property
1*22:1a Verse 22:1 is numbered 21:37 in Hebrew text.“If someone steals an ox*22:1b Or bull, or cow; also in 22:4, 9, 10. or sheep and then kills or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four sheep for each sheep stolen.
2*22:2 Verses 22:2-31 are numbered 22:1-30 in Hebrew text.“If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder.
“A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything he stole. If he cannot pay, he must be sold as a slave to pay for his theft.
5“If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else’s field to graze, then the animal’s owner must pay compensation from the best of his own grain or grapes.
6“If you are burning thornbushes and the fire gets out of control and spreads into another person’s field, destroying the sheaves or the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crop.
7“Suppose someone leaves money or goods with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief is caught, the compensation is double the value of what was stolen.
9“Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares*22:9 Or before the judges, and the person whom the judges declare. guilty must pay double compensation to the other.
10“Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or is taken away, and no one sees what happened.
14“If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation.
Social Responsibility
16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay the customary bride price and marry her.
18“You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19“Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must certainly be put to death.
20“Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.*22:20 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
21“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22“You must not exploit a widow or an orphan.
25“If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.
28“You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.
29“You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine.
“You must give me your firstborn sons.
30“You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. But leave the newborn animal with its mother for seven days; then give it to me on the eighth day.
31“You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.
