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Exodus 22
New Catholic Bible
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.
Exodus 22
New International Version
Exodus 22
New International Version
Protection of Property
22 [a]“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back(A) five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
2 “If a thief is caught breaking in(B) at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;(C) 3 but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.
“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution,(D) but if they have nothing, they must be sold(E) to pay for their theft. 4 If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession(F)—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.(G)
5 “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution(H) from the best of their own field or vineyard.
6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks(I) of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.(J)
7 “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping(K) and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.(L) 8 But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges,(M) and they must[b] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.[c](N) The one whom the judges declare[d] guilty must pay back double to the other.
10 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping(O) and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11 the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath(P) before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. 12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution(Q) must be made to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.(R)
14 “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.(S) 15 But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.(T)
Social Responsibility
16 “If a man seduces a virgin(U) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price,(V) and she shall be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
18 “Do not allow a sorceress(W) to live.
19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal(X) is to be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god(Y) other than the Lord must be destroyed.[e](Z)
21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner,(AA) for you were foreigners(AB) in Egypt.
22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.(AC) 23 If you do and they cry out(AD) to me, I will certainly hear their cry.(AE) 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.(AF)
25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.(AG) 26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,(AH) return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in?(AI) When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.(AJ)
28 “Do not blaspheme God[f](AK) or curse(AL) the ruler of your people.(AM)
29 “Do not hold back offerings(AN) from your granaries or your vats.[g]
“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.(AO) 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.(AP) Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.(AQ)
31 “You are to be my holy people.(AR) So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;(AS) throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1 is numbered 21:37, and 22:2-31 is numbered 22:1-30.
- Exodus 22:8 Or before God, and he will
- Exodus 22:9 Or before God
- Exodus 22:9 Or whom God declares
- Exodus 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
- Exodus 22:28 Or Do not revile the judges
- Exodus 22:29 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
New International Version (NIV) 
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