Exodus 21
21"These are the regulations you must present to Israel.H4941H7760H64402"If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.H7069H5680H5650H8337H8141H5647H7637H3318H2670H26003If he was single when he became your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him.H935H1610H3318H1610H1167H802H802H33184"If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master.H113H5414H802H3205H1121H1323H802H3206H113H3318H16105But the slave may declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don't want to go free.'H5650H559H559H157H113H802H1121H3318H26706If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life.H113H5066H430H5066H1817H4201H113H7527H241H4836H5647H57697"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are.H376H4376H1323H519H3318H5650H33188If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her.H7451H5869H113H3259H6299H4376H5237H5971H4910H8989But if the slave's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter.H3259H1121H6213H4941H132310"If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy.H3947H312H7607H3682H5772H163911If he fails in any of these three obligations, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.H6213H7969H3318H2600H370112"Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death.H5221H376H4191H4191H419113But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety.H6658H430H579H3027H7760H4725H512714However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death.H376H2102H7453H2026H6195H3947H4196H419115"Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death.H5221H1H517H4191H419116"Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.H1589H376H4376H4672H3027H4191H419117"Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death.H7043H1H517H4191H419118"Now suppose two men quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, and the injured person does not die but is confined to bed.H582H7378H376H5221H7453H68H176H106H4191H5307H490419If he is later able to walk outside again, even with a crutch, the assailant will not be punished but must compensate his victim for lost wages and provide for his full recovery.H6965H1980H2351H4938H5221H5352H5414H7674H7495H749520"If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished.H376H5221H5650H519H7626H4191H3027H5358H535821But if the slave recovers within a day or two, then the owner shall not be punished, since the slave is his property.H389H5975H3117H8147H5358H370122"Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman's husband demands and the judges approve.H582H5327H5062H802H2030H3206H3318H611H6064H6064H802H1167H7896H5414H641423But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life,H611H5414H5315H531524an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,H5869H5869H8127H8127H3027H3027H7272H727225a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.H3555H3555H6482H6482H2250H225026"If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye.H376H5221H5869H5650H5869H519H7843H7971H2670H8478H586927And if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.H5307H5650H8127H519H8127H7971H2670H812728"If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will not be held liable.H7794H5055H376H802H4191H7794H5619H5619H1320H398H1167H7794H535529But suppose the ox had a reputation for goring, and the owner had been informed but failed to keep it under control. If the ox then kills someone, it must be stoned, and the owner must also be put to death.H7794H5056H8543H8032H5749H1167H8104H4191H376H802H7794H5619H1167H419130However, the dead person's relatives may accept payment to compensate for the loss of life. The owner of the ox may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded.H7896H3724H5414H6306H5315H789631"The same regulation applies if the ox gores a boy or a girl.H5055H1121H176H5055H1323H4941H621332But if the ox gores a slave, either male or female, the animal's owner must pay the slave's owner thirty silver coins, and the ox must be stoned.H7794H5055H5650H519H5414H113H7970H8255H3701H7794H561933"Suppose someone digs or uncovers a pit and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey falls into it.H376H6605H953H376H3738H953H3680H7794H2543H530734The owner of the pit must pay full compensation to the owner of the animal, but then he gets to keep the dead animal.H1167H953H7999H7725H3701H1167H419135"If someone's ox injures a neighbor's ox and the injured ox dies, then the two owners must sell the live ox and divide the price equally between them. They must also divide the dead animal.H376H7794H5062H7453H4191H4376H2416H7794H2673H3701H4191H267336But if the ox had a reputation for goring, yet its owner failed to keep it under control, he must pay full compensation—a live ox for the dead one—but he may keep the dead ox.H3045H7794H5056H8543H8032H1167H8104H7999H7999H7794H7794H4191
Exodus 22
22"If someone steals an ox or sheep and then kills or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four sheep for each sheep stolen.H376H1589H7794H7716H2873H4376H7999H2568H1241H7794H702H6629H77162"If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder.H1590H4672H4290H5221H4191H18183But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder. "A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything he stole. If he cannot pay, he must be sold as a slave to pay for his theft.H8121H2224H1818H7999H7999H4376H15914If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief's possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal.H1591H4672H4672H3027H2416H7794H2543H7716H7999H81475"If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else's field to graze, then the animal's owner must pay compensation from the best of his own grain or grapes.H376H7704H3754H1197H7971H1165H1197H312H7704H4315H7704H4315H3754H79996"If you are burning thornbushes and the fire gets out of control and spreads into another person's field, destroying the sheaves or the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crop.H784H3318H4672H6975H1430H7054H7704H398H1197H1200H7999H79997"Suppose someone leaves money or goods with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor's house. If the thief is caught, the compensation is double the value of what was stolen.H376H5414H7453H3701H3627H8104H1589H376H1004H1590H4672H7999H81478But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God, who will determine if he stole the property.H1590H3808H4672H1167H1004H7126H430H7971H3027H7453H43999"Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other.H1697H6588H7794H2543H7716H8008H9H559H1697H8147H935H430H430H7561H7999H8147H745310"Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or gets away, and no one sees what happened.H376H5414H7453H2543H7794H7716H929H8104H4191H7665H7617H720011The neighbor must then take an oath in the presence of the LORD. If the LORD confirms that the neighbor did not steal the property, the owner must accept the verdict, and no payment will be required.H7621H3068H8147H7971H3027H7453H4399H1167H3947H799912But if the animal was indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner.H1589H1589H7999H116713If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the remains of the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no compensation will be required.H2963H2963H935H5707H7999H296614"If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation.H376H7592H7453H7665H4191H1167H5973H7999H799915But if the owner was present, no compensation is required. And no compensation is required if the animal was rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee.H1167H7999H7916H935H793916"If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay the customary bride price and marry her.H376H6601H1330H781H7901H4117H4117H80217But if her father refuses to let him marry her, the man must still pay him an amount equal to the bride price of a virgin.H1H3985H3985H5414H8254H3701H4119H133018"You must not allow a sorceress to live.H3784H242119"Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must certainly be put to death.H7901H929H4191H419120"Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.H2076H430H1115H3068H276321"You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.H3238H1616H3905H1616H776H471422"You must not exploit a widow or an orphan.H6031H490H349023If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry.H518H6031H6031H6817H6817H8085H8085H681824My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.H639H2734H2026H2719H802H490H1121H349025"If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.H3867H3701H5971H6041H5383H7760H539226If you take your neighbor's cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset.H2254H2254H7453H8008H2254H7725H5704H8121H93527This coat may be the only blanket your neighbor has. How can a person sleep without it? If you do not return it and your neighbor cries out to me for help, then I will hear, for I am merciful.H3682H8071H5785H7901H6817H8085H258728"You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.H7043H430H779H5387H597129"You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. "You must give me your firstborn sons.H309H4395H1831H1060H1121H541430"You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. But leave the newborn animal with its mother for seven days; then give it to me on the eighth day.H3651H6213H7794H6629H7651H3117H517H8066H3117H541431"You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.H6944H582H398H1320H2966H7704H7993H3611
Exodus 23
23"You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.H5375H7723H8088H7896H3027H7563H2555H57072"You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.H310H7227H7451H6030H7379H5186H310H7227H51863And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.H1921H1800H73794"If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner.H6293H341H7794H2543H8582H7725H7725H77255If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.H7200H2543H8130H7257H4853H2308H5800H5800H58006"In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor.H5186H4941H34H73797"Be sure never to charge anyone falsely with evil. Never sentence an innocent or blameless person to death, for I never declare a guilty person to be innocent.H7368H8267H1697H5355H6662H2026H6663H75638"Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth.H3947H7810H7810H5786H6493H5557H1697H66629"You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it's like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.H3905H1616H3045H5315H1616H3588H1616H776H471410"Plant and harvest your crops for six years,H8337H8141H2232H776H622H839311but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves.H7637H8058H5203H34H5971H398H3499H2416H7704H398H6213H3754H213212"You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working. This gives your ox and your donkey a chance to rest. It also allows your slaves and the foreigners living among you to be refreshed.H8337H3117H6213H4639H7637H3117H7673H7794H2543H5117H1121H519H1616H531413"Pay close attention to all my instructions. You must not call on the name of any other gods. Do not even speak their names.H559H8104H2142H8034H312H430H8085H5921H631014"Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor.H7969H7272H2287H814115First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.H8104H2282H4682H398H4682H7651H3117H6680H4150H2320H24H3318H4714H7200H6440H738716"Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. "Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields.H2282H7105H1061H4639H2232H7704H2282H614H3318H8141H622H4639H770417At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the LORD.H7969H6471H8141H2138H7200H6440H113H306818"You must not offer the blood of my sacrificial offerings together with any baked goods containing yeast. And do not leave the fat from the festival offerings until the next morning.H2076H1818H2077H2557H2459H2282H3885H124219"As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the LORD your God. "You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.H7225H1061H127H935H1004H3068H430H1310H1423H517H246120"See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.H7971H4397H6440H8104H1870H935H4725H355921Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion.H8104H6440H8085H6963H4843H5375H6588H8034H713022But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.H8085H8085H6963H6213H1696H340H341H6887H669623For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely.H4397H3212H6440H935H567H2850H6522H3669H2340H2983H358224You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.H7812H430H5647H6213H4639H2040H2040H7665H7665H467625"You must serve only the LORD your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness.H5647H3068H430H1288H3899H4325H5493H4245H5493H713026There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives.H7921H6135H776H4557H3117H439027"I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run.H7971H367H6440H2000H5971H935H5414H341H620328I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites.H7971H6880H6440H1644H2340H3669H2850H644029But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you.H1644H6440H259H8141H776H8077H2416H7704H722730I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land.H4592H4592H1644H6440H6509H5157H77631And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you.H7896H1366H5488H3220H3220H6430H4057H5104H5414H3427H776H3027H1644H644032"Make no treaties with them or their gods.H3772H1285H43033They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry."H3427H776H2398H5647H430H4170
Dublin, OH
. Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life.H113
