Exodus 22

1 “If a man steals a calf or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he is to pay five calves for the calf and four sheep for the sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck and dies, there is no bloodguilt for him; 3 but if the sun had risen on him, there is guilt — he is to die in his place. And if a thief has nothing, let him be sold to pay for what he stole. [a] 4 If he is caught, and what was stolen is found in his hand alive — from donkey to sheep — he is to pay it back double. 5 If a man grazes a field or a vineyard bare, and lets his animal loose to graze another man’s field, he is to repay from his own field by its yield; and if he has grazed the whole field bare, he is to repay with the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. 6 If fire breaks out and catches thorns, and burns up a threshing floor, or standing grain, or a field, the one who lit the fire is to make it good.

7 If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house — if the thief is found, he is to pay double. 8 But if the thief is not found, the master of the house is to come before God and swear that he has done no wrong at all with any of his neighbor’s deposit. 9 In every charge of wrongdoing — over a calf, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, any loss that is claimed, whatever it may be — the case of both parties is to come before God, and the one God convicts is to pay his neighbor double. 10 If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, or a calf, or a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it is injured or dies or is carried off, with no one seeing, 11 an oath by God is to stand between the two of them — that he has done no wrong at all with his neighbor’s deposit. The owner is to accept it, and the keeper does not pay. 12 But if it was stolen from him, he is to pay the owner back. 13 If it was killed by wild animals, he is to bring the owner to the carcass, and he does not pay. 14 If a man borrows anything from his neighbor and it is injured, or dies, or is carried off, and its owner was not with it, he is to make it good. 15 But if the owner was with it, he does not pay. And if it was hired, the loss is covered by its hire.

16 If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and lies with her, he is to pay the bride-price for her and take her as his wife. 17 But if her father flatly refuses to give her to him as a wife, he is to pay her father in silver, as much as the bride-price of virgins. 18 You are not to keep sorcerers alive. [b] 19 Anyone who lies with an animal — you are to put them to death. 20 Whoever sacrifices to any gods but the Lord alone is to be destroyed by death. 21 And you are not to wrong a newcomer or press him hard — for you were newcomers in the land of Egypt. 22 You are not to wrong any widow or orphan. 23 If you wrong them badly, and they cry out and call to me, I will surely hear their voice, 24 and I will burn with anger and kill you with the sword — and your own wives will be widows, and your own children orphans. 25 If you lend money to the poor brother beside you, you are not to press him, and you are not to lay interest on him. 26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, give it back to him before the sun goes down; 27 for it is his covering — this one garment covers his bareness. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to me, I will listen, for I am merciful. 28 You are not to speak evil of the gods, and you are not to speak ill of a ruler of your people. [c] 29 You are not to hold back the firstfruits of your threshing floor and your winepress. The firstborn of your sons you are to give to me. 30 You are to do the same with your calf and your sheep and your donkey: seven days it stays under its mother, and on the eighth day you are to give it to me. 31 And you are to be holy men to me. You are not to eat meat torn by wild animals — throw it to the dog.”