Property Laws

1If a man steale an oxe or a sheepe, and kill it or sell it, he shal restore fiue oxen for the oxe, & foure sheepe for the sheepe.

2If a thiefe bee founde breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye, no blood shall be shed for him. 3But if it be in the day light, blood shall be shed for him: for he should make full restitution: if he had not wherewith, then shoulde he bee solde for his theft. 4If the theft bee founde with him, aliue, (whether it be oxe, asse, or sheepe) he shal restore the double.

5If a man doe hurt fielde, or vineyarde, and put in his beast to feed in an other mans fielde, he shall recompence of the best of his owne fielde, and of the best of his owne vineyard.

6If fire breake out, and catche in ye thornes, and the stackes of corne, or the standing corne, or the fielde be consumed, he that kindled the fire shall make full restitution.

7If a man deliuer his neighbour money or stuffe to keepe, and it be stollen out of his house, if the thiefe be found, he shall pay the double. 8If the thiefe be not founde, then the master of the house shalbe brought vnto the Iudges to sweare, whether he hath put his hande vnto his neighbours good, or no. 9In all maner of trespasse, whether it bee for oxen, for asse, for sheepe, for raiment, or for any maner of lost thing, which an other chalengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shal come before the iudges, and whom the Iudges condemne, he shall pay the double vnto his neighbour.

10If a man deliuer vnto his neighbour to keepe asse, or oxe, or sheepe, or any beast, and it die, or be hurt, or taken away by enemies, and no man see it, 11An oth of the Lord shalbe betweene the twaine, that hee hath not put his hande vnto his neighbours good, and the owner of it shall take the othe, and he shall not make it good: 12But if it be stollen fro him, he shal make restitution vnto the owner thereof. 13If it be torne in pieces, he shall bring recorde, and shall not make that good, which is deuoured.

14And if a man borow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or els die, the owner thereof not being by, he shal surely make it good. 15If the owner thereof bee by, hee shall not make it good: for if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

Laws of Social Responsibility

16And if a man entise a maide that is not betrothed, and lie with her, hee shall endowe her, and take her to his wife. 17If her father refuse to giue her to him, hee shal pay money, according to ye dowry of virgins.

18Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue.

19Whosoeuer lieth with a beast, shall dye the death.

20Hee that offereth vnto any gods, saue vnto the Lord onely, shalbe slaine.

21Moreouer, thou shalt not do iniurie to a stranger, neither oppresse him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22Ye shall not trouble any widowe, nor fatherlesse childe. 23If thou vexe or trouble such, and so he call and cry vnto me, I will surely heare his cry. 24Then shal my wrath be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wiues shall be widowes, and your children fatherlesse.

25If thou lende money to my people, that is, to the poore with thee, thou shalt not bee as an vsurer vnto him: yee shall not oppresse him with vsurie. 26If thou take thy neighbours rayment to pledge, thou shalt restore it vnto him before the sunne go downe: 27For that is his couering only, and this is his garment for his skin: wherin shal he sleepe? therefore when he crieth vnto mee, I will heare him: for I am mercifull.

28Thou shalt not raile vpon the Iudges, neither speake euil of the ruler of thy people.

29Thine abundance and thy licour shalt thou not keepe backe. The first borne of thy sonnes shalt thou giue me. 30Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen & with thy sheepe: seuen dayes it shall bee with his damme, and the eight day thou shalt giue it me.

31Ye shalbe an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any flesh that is torne of beastes in the fielde: ye shall cast it to the dogge.