Geneva BibleBerean Standard Bible

1. Property Laws

2. 1GNVIf a man steale an oxe or a sheepe, and kill it or sell it, he shall restore fiue oxen for the oxe, and foure sheepe for the sheepe.BSBBSB: “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
3. 2GNVIf a thiefe bee founde breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye, no blood shall be shed for him.BSBBSB: If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
4. 3GNVBut if it be in the day light, blood shall be shed for him: for he should make full restitution: if he had not wherewith, then shoulde he bee solde for his theft.BSBBSB: But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft.
5. 4GNVIf the theft bee founde with him, aliue, (whether it be oxe, asse, or sheepe) he shall restore the double.BSBBSB: If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
6. 5GNVIf a man doe hurt fielde, or vineyarde, and put in his beast to feed in an other mans fielde, he shall recompence of the best of his owne fielde, and of the best of his owne vineyard.BSBBSB: If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
7. 6GNVIf fire breake out, and catche in ye thornes, and the stackes of corne, or the standing corne, or the fielde be consumed, he that kindled the fire shall make full restitution.BSBBSB: If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.
8. 7GNVIf a man deliuer his neighbour money or stuffe to keepe, and it be stollen out of his house, if the thiefe be found, he shall pay the double.BSBBSB: If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
9. 8GNVIf the thiefe be not founde, then the master of the house shalbe brought vnto the Iudges to sweare, whether he hath put his hande vnto his neighbours good, or no.BSBBSB: If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.
10. 9GNVIn all maner of trespasse, whether it bee for oxen, for asse, for sheepe, for raiment, or for any maner of lost thing, which an other chalengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the iudges, and whom the Iudges condemne, he shall pay the double vnto his neighbour.BSBBSB: In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
11. 10GNVIf a man deliuer vnto his neighbour to keepe asse, or oxe, or sheepe, or any beast, and it die, or be hurt, or taken away by enemies, and no man see it,BSBBSB: If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching,
12. 11GNVAn othe of the Lord shalbe betweene the twaine, that hee hath not put his hande vnto his neighbours good, and the owner of it shall take the othe, and he shall not make it good:BSBBSB: an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution.
13. 12GNVBut if it be stollen from him, he shall make restitution vnto the owner thereof.BSBBSB: But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
14. 13GNVIf it be torne in pieces, he shall bring recorde, and shall not make that good, which is deuoured.BSBBSB: If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
15. 14GNVAnd if a man borow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or els die, the owner thereof not being by, he shall surely make it good.BSBBSB: If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution.
16. 15GNVIf the owner thereof bee by, hee shall not make it good: for if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.BSBBSB: If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.

17. Laws of Social Responsibility

18. 16GNVAnd if a man entise a maide that is not betrothed, and lie with her, hee shall endowe her, and take her to his wife.BSBBSB: If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
19. 17GNVIf her father refuse to giue her to him, hee shall pay money, according to ye dowry of virgins.BSBBSB: If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.
20. 18GNVThou shalt not suffer a witch to liue.BSBBSB: You must not allow a sorceress to live.
21. 19GNVWhosoeuer lieth with a beast, shall dye the death.BSBBSB: Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
22. 20GNVHee that offereth vnto any gods, saue vnto the Lord onely, shalbe slaine.BSBBSB: If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
23. 21GNVMoreouer, thou shalt not do iniurie to a stranger, neither oppresse him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.BSBBSB: You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
24. 22GNVYe shall not trouble any widowe, nor fatherlesse childe.BSBBSB: You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
25. 23GNVIf thou vexe or trouble such, and so he call and cry vnto me, I will surely heare his cry.BSBBSB: If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
26. 24GNVThen shall my wrath be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wiues shall be widowes, and your children fatherlesse.BSBBSB: My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
27. 25GNVIf thou lende money to my people, that is, to the poore with thee, thou shalt not bee as an vsurer vnto him: yee shall not oppresse him with vsurie.BSBBSB: If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
28. 26GNVIf thou take thy neighbours rayment to pledge, thou shalt restore it vnto him before the sunne go downe:BSBBSB: If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
29. 27GNVFor that is his couering only, and this is his garment for his skin: wherin shall he sleepe? therefore when he crieth vnto mee, I will heare him: for I am mercifull.BSBBSB: because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
30. 28GNVThou shalt not raile vpon the Iudges, neither speake euil of the ruler of thy people.BSBBSB: You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
31. 29GNVThine abundance and thy licour shalt thou not keepe backe. The first borne of thy sonnes shalt thou giue me.BSBBSB: You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
32. 30GNVLikewise shalt thou do with thine oxen and with thy sheepe: seuen dayes it shall bee with his damme, and the eight day thou shalt giue it me.BSBBSB: You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.
33. 31GNVYe shall be an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any flesh that is torne of beastes in the fielde: ye shall cast it to the dogge.BSBBSB: You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.