Exodus 22 · Parashat Mishpatim

If a thief be found breaking in, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed on his account.

If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed on his account. He should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

If the theft be at all found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

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 field, and of the best of his vineyard, shall he make restitution

If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the sheaves, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

If a man shall deliver to his neighbour money or vessels to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.

If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to swear that he has not put his hand to his neighbour’s goods.

For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for a garment, or for any manner of lost thing, of which one can say, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double to his neighbour.

If a man deliver to his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or be driven away, no man seeing it:

then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he has not put his hand to his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept this, and he shall not make it good.

But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.

If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make good that which was torn.

And if a man borrow aught of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make it good.

But if its owner be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be a hired thing, it came for his hire.

And if a man seduce a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall pay the bride price for her to be his wife.

If her father utterly refuse to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the marriage price of virgins.

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Whoever cohabits with a beast shall surely be put to death.

He that sacrifices to any god, save to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for you were strangers in the land of Miżrayim.

You shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

If thou at all afflict them, and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry;

and my anger shall be inflamed, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor, neither shall you lay upon him interest.

If thou at all take thy neighbour’s garment for a pledge, thou shalt deliver it to him by sundown:

for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin: in what shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he cries to me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

Thou shalt not revile the judges, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give to me.

In like manner 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 me.

And you shall be holy men to me: neither shall you eat any meat that is torn of beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.