Exodus 22
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 22
1 “If a thief is surprised while he is breaking in and is struck and dies, then there is no bloodguilt for the striker. 2 But if the sun has already risen on him, there would be bloodguilt for the striker.
“A thief must surely pay restitution. If he has nothing with which he can pay, then he is to be sold to pay for his theft.
3 “If he is found with the animals he robbed and they are still alive, whether they be oxen or donkeys or sheep, he is to repay double.
Offenses Regarding Compensation. 4 “If someone uses a field or a vineyard as a pasture and lets his animals graze in someone else’s field, then he must repay that person with the best of his field and the best of his vineyard.
5 “If a fire breaks out and it spreads to the thornbushes so that it burns the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself, the person who started the fire must make restitution.[a]
6 “If someone entrusts his neighbor with silver or goods for safekeeping, and there is a robbery in that house and the thief is caught, the thief shall pay back double. 7 If the thief is not caught, the master of the house is to be brought before the judges to swear that he has not laid hands on the property of his neighbor.
8 “Whatever the transgression, whether it be about an ox or a sheep or clothes or any other lost property about which a person has said, ‘This is mine,’ the case of both parties will be brought before the judges. Whoever the judges find guilty shall pay back double to his neighbor.
9 “If someone entrusts his neighbor with a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any other animal, and that animal dies or is injured or stolen with no witnesses, 10 then an oath to the Lord shall be taken between the two parties declaring that the one entrusted with the animal did not lay hands on his neighbor’s property. The owner of the property shall accept this and there shall be no restitution. 11 But if it was stolen while he was present, then he will make restitution to its owner. 12 If it was torn to pieces, let him bring the pieces as evidence and he shall not pay restitution.
13 “If someone borrows anything from a neighbor and it is hurt or dies when the owner is not there, he shall pay full restitution. 14 But if the owner is there, he shall not have to pay restitution. If the animal was hired, then its loss is the price of its hire.
15 Moral and Religious Regulations.“If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall pay a dowry for her and will make her his wife. 16 If her father refuses to give her to him, he must give him the normal amount of dowry paid for a virgin.[b]
17 “You shall not allow a witch to live.
18 “Whoever lies with an animal must die. 19 Whoever offers a sacrifice to any other god besides the Lord will be annihilated.
20 “You shall not mistreat or oppress the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
21 “You shall not oppress the widow or the orphan. 22 If you mistreat them and they cry out to me for help, I will surely hear their cry, 23 and my fury will burn and I will put you to death by the sword. Your wives will be widows and your children will be orphans.
24 “If you lend money to any of the poor among my people, you will not act as a creditor toward him nor will you take any interest.
25 “If you take your neighbor’s mantle as a pledge, you shall restore it to him at sunset, 26 for it is his covering. It is the cloak for his body. What else would cover him when he sleeps? Otherwise, when he cries out to me, I will listen to his cry, for I am compassionate.[c]
27 “You shall not blaspheme God nor curse the leader of your people.
28 “You shall not delay to make offerings from your harvest and your vintage. You shall give your firstborn from among your sons to me. 29 You shall do the same with your oxen and your sheep. Seven days it shall remain with its mother, and on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
30 “You shall be men consecrated to me. So do not eat the flesh of any beast that has been torn to pieces in the countryside; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:5 Some translations are more definitive in describing the quality of the payback (i.e., it should err on the side of being generous).
- Exodus 22:16 The customary gift according to Deut 22:29 would be fifty shekels. A dowry is still part of the betrothal process in mid-eastern countries.
- Exodus 22:26 I am compassionate: God’s mercy and kindness go beyond the poor, the widow, and the orphan. His grace falls on the good and the undeserving. All we can do is gratefully accept this unmerited gift and respond with loving praise and thanks.
