Property Laws 1 WBS If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. BSB BSB: “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.
2 WBS If a thief shall be found breaking through, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. BSB BSB: If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
3 WBS If the sun shall have risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him: for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. BSB BSB: 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.
4 WBS If the theft shall be certainly found in his hand alive, whether an ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. BSB BSB: If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
5 WBS If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field: of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard shall he make restitution. BSB BSB: 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.
6 WBS If fire shall break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field shall be consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. BSB BSB: 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.
7 WBS If a man shall deliver to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief shall be found, let him pay double. BSB BSB: 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.
8 WBS If the thief shall not be found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to see whether he hath put his hand to his neighbor's goods. BSB BSB: 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.
9 WBS For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his: the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and he whom the judges shall condemn, shall pay double to his neighbor. BSB BSB: 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.
10 WBS If a man shall deliver to his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast to keep; and it shall die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it : BSB BSB: 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,
11 WBS Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand to his neighbor's goods; and the owner of it shall accept of it, and he shall not make restitution.BSB BSB: 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.
12 WBS And if it shall be stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. BSB BSB: But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
13 WBS If it shall be torn in pieces; then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. BSB BSB: If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
14 WBS And if a man shall borrow aught of his neighbor, and it shall be hurt, or die, the owner of it being not with it, he shall surely make it good. BSB BSB: 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.
15 WBS But if the owner of it shall be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be a hired thing , it came for his hire.BSB BSB: If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
Laws of Social Responsibility 16 WBS And if a man shall entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. BSB BSB: 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.
17 WBS If her father shall utterly refuse to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dower of virgins. BSB BSB: 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.
18 WBS Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. BSB BSB: You must not allow a sorceress to live.
19 WBS Whoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. BSB BSB: Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
20 WBS He that sacrificeth to any god, save to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. BSB BSB: If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
21 WBS Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
22 WBS Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. BSB BSB: You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
23 WBS If thou shalt afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry: BSB BSB: If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
24 WBS And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. BSB BSB: 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.
25 WBS If thou shalt lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. BSB BSB: 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.
27 WBS For that is his only covering, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth to me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. BSB BSB: 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.
28 WBS Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. BSB BSB: You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 WBS Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the first-born of thy sons shalt thou give to me. BSB BSB: You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
30 WBS Likewise shalt thou do with thy oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it to me. BSB BSB: 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.
31 WBS And ye shall be holy men to me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. BSB BSB: 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.