HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 442
EX O D U S 2 2
page 72
owner must be punished. 21 But if the slave recovers within a day or two, then the owner shall
not be punished, since the slave is his property.
22 “Now suppose two men are fighting, and in
the process they accidentally strike a pregnant
woman so she gives birth prematurely.* If no
further injury results, the man who struck the
woman must pay the amount of compensation
the woman’s husband demands and the judges
approve. 23 But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life,
24 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand
for a hand, a foot for a foot, 25 a burn for a burn,
a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.
26 “If a man hits his male or female slave in
the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the
slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And
if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.
28 “If an ox* gores a man or woman to death,
the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not be
eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will
not be held liable. 29 But suppose the ox had a
reputation for goring, and the owner had been
informed but failed to keep it under control. If
the ox then kills someone, it must be stoned,
and the owner must also be put to death. 30 However, the dead person’s relatives may accept
payment to compensate for the loss of life. The
owner of the ox may redeem his life by paying
whatever is demanded.
31 “The same regulation applies if the ox gores
a boy or a girl. 32 But if the ox gores a slave,
either male or female, the animal’s owner must
pay the slave’s owner thirty silver coins,* and
the ox must be stoned.
33 “Suppose someone digs or uncovers a pit
and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey
falls into it. 34 The owner of the pit must pay full
compensation to the owner of the animal, but
then he gets to keep the dead animal.
35 “If someone’s ox injures a neighbor’s ox
and the injured ox dies, then the two owners
must sell the live ox and divide the price equally
between them. They must also divide the dead
animal. 36 But if the ox had a reputation for goring, yet its owner failed to keep it under control,
he must pay full compensation—a live ox for the
dead one—but he may keep the dead ox.
“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. 4 If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is
found in the thief’s possession, then the thief
must pay double the value of the stolen animal.
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. 8 But if the thief is not caught,
the neighbor must appear before God,* who will
determine if he stole the property.
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* 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.
11 The neighbor must then take an oath in the
presence of the Lord. If the Lord confirms that
the neighbor did not steal the property, the
owner must accept the verdict, and no payment
will be required. 12 But if the animal was indeed
stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a
wild animal, the remains of the carcass must be
shown as evidence, and no compensation will
be required.
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. 15 But if the owner
was present, no compensation is required. And
no compensation is required if the animal was
rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee.
Protection of Property
1*“If someone steals an ox* 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*“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. 3 But if it happens in daylight, the one
who killed the thief is guilty of murder.
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. 17 But if
22
21:22 Or so she has a miscarriage; Hebrew reads so her
children come out. 21:28 Or bull, or cow; also in 21:2936. 21:32 Hebrew 30 shekels of silver, about 12 ounces or
342 grams in weight. 22:1a Verse 22:1 is numbered 21:37
in Hebrew text. 22:1b Or bull, or cow; also in 22:4, 9, 10.
22:2 Verses 22:2-31 are numbered 22:1-30 in Hebrew text.
22:8 Or before the judges. 22:9 Or before the judges, and
the person whom the judges declare.