Exodus 22

1 “If [in the event that, when] a man [a person, an individual] steals [takes without right, commits theft] an ox [a domesticated bovine] or a sheep [a domesticated mammal] and slaughters [kills, puts to death] or sells [exchanges for money, trades] it, he must repay [make restitution, restore] five oxen [as a form of compensation, to make amends] for an ox [in place of the stolen one] and four sheep [as a form of restitution, to restore what was taken] for a sheep [in accordance with the law, to satisfy justice]. word study 2 If [in the event that, whether] a thief [one who steals, a burglar] is caught [found, discovered] breaking in [forcing entry, undermining] and is beaten [struck, smitten] to death [resulting in fatal injury], no one [not a single person, no individual] shall be guilty [responsible, liable] of bloodshed [shedding blood, taking a life]. word study 3 But if it happens [during daylight] after sunrise, there is guilt [bloodguiltiness, responsibility] for his bloodshed [murder, taking of life]. A thief [one who steals, a robber] must make full [complete, total] restitution; if he has nothing [no possessions, no means to pay], he himself shall be sold [given into bondage, become a slave] for his theft [the act of stealing, crime]. word study 4 If what was stolen [the theft, the property taken] is actually found [certainly discovered, clearly evident] alive [still living, not harmed] in his possession [in his hand, under his control]—whether [or, if it be] ox [cattle, livestock] or donkey [ass, beast of burden] or sheep [domesticated animal, flock]—he must pay back [restore, repay] double [twice the value, a twofold restitution]. word study 5 If a man grazes [pastures, lets feed] his livestock [beast, animal] in a field [land, cultivated area] or vineyard [place of grapevines] and allows them to stray [lets loose, sets free] so that they graze [eat, devour] in someone else’s field [another man’s land, neighboring property], he must make restitution [pay compensation, restore] from the best [finest, choicest] of his own field [land, cultivated area] or vineyard [place of grapevines]. word study 6 If a fire breaks [catches] out and spreads to thornbushes [thorns, prickly plants] so that it consumes [destroys, burns up] stacked [gathered, piled] or standing [growing, upright] grain, or the whole field [the entire area, all the land], the one who started [kindled, ignited] the fire must make [provide, pay] full [complete, total] restitution [compensation, repayment]. word study 7 If a man gives [entrusts, delivers] his neighbor [friend, companion] money [silver, valuables] or goods [possessions, stuff] for safekeeping [to keep, to guard] and they are stolen [taken away, pilfered] from the neighbor’s house [dwelling place, home], the thief [one who takes unlawfully], if caught [found, discovered], must pay back [restore, repay] double [twice the value, two times the amount]. word study 8 If the thief [cannot be caught] is not found, the owner [master, head] of the house must appear [come near, stand before] before the judges [God, Elohim, those who judge] to determine [to see, to find out] whether he has taken [stolen, put his hand upon] his neighbor’s [friend’s, companion’s] property [goods, belongings]. word study 9 In all cases [every matter, any situation] of illegal possession [trespass, fraud] of an ox [cattle, livestock], a donkey [ass], a sheep [or goat], a garment [raiment, clothing], or any lost item [anything that has been lost or stolen] that someone claims [says is theirs, asserts ownership], ‘This is mine [belongs to me],’ both parties [the two individuals involved] shall bring their cases [causes, disputes] before the judges [those who govern, decide]. The one whom the judges [authorities, rulers] find guilty [condemn, declare responsible] must pay back [restore, repay] double [twice the value, two times the amount] to his neighbor [fellow, nearby resident]. word study 10 If a man gives [entrusts, delivers] a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal [beast, livestock] to be cared for [kept, watched over] by his neighbor [companion, fellow], but it dies [perishes, comes to death] or is injured [hurt, damaged] or stolen [driven away, taken away] while no one is watching [seeing, observing], word study 11 an oath [a solemn promise, a vow] before the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah] shall be made between the parties [the two individuals involved, with God as witness] to determine whether or not the man has taken [stolen, secretly removed] his neighbor’s property [goods, belongings, possessions]. The owner [master, leader, the one in authority] must accept [believe, trust] the oath and require [demand, expect] no restitution [payment, compensation, amends]. word study 12 But if [certainly, without a doubt] the animal [beast, livestock] was actually stolen [taken by a thief, robbed] from the neighbor [the one nearby, a fellow citizen], he must make [provide, restore] restitution [amends, compensation] to the owner [the one who possesses, the master]. word study 13 If the animal [torn in pieces, killed by a wild beast] was torn to pieces, he shall bring it [for witness] as evidence; he need not make [full, complete] restitution [to repay, to make good] for the torn [damaged, slain] carcass. word study 14 If [in the event that, whether] a man borrows [takes on loan, rents] an animal [beast, domesticated creature] from his neighbor [fellow citizen, person nearby] and it is injured [hurt, damaged] or dies [perishes, comes to an end] while its owner [master, one in charge] is not present [not with it, absent], he must make [to complete, to restore] full [complete, total] restitution [payment, compensation]. word study 15 If the owner [who has possession and responsibility] was present [with the animal, nearby], no restitution [payment for loss or damage] is required [necessary or demanded]. If the animal [beast or livestock] was rented [hired or leased], the fee [payment or compensation] covers [pays for or makes up for] the loss [damage or injury]. word study 16 If a man [entices, persuades] seduces a virgin [who is not betrothed, a girl/woman who is a virgin] who is not pledged [engaged, promised] in marriage and sleeps [lies, has connection] with her, he must pay [endow, give a bride-price] the full dowry [bride-price, silver] for her to be his wife [to marry her, take her as his own]. word study 17 If her father [utterly, completely] absolutely refuses [will not give her on any account] to give her to him, the man [he, the one responsible] still must pay [weigh out, give money according to] an amount [money, a dowry] comparable [according to, equal to] to the bridal price [dowry, bride-price] of a virgin [a young unmarried woman, a maiden]. word study 18 You must not allow a [woman who practices witchcraft/sorceress] sorceress to live [or exist, to survive]. word study 19 Whoever [has sex connection with] lies with an animal [beast, creature] must surely [certainly, without fail] be put to death [executed, die the death]. word study 20 If anyone [whoever, any person] sacrifices [offers, makes an offering] to any god [deity, idol] other than [except, besides] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God] alone [only, exclusively], he must be set apart [devoted, utterly destroyed] for destruction [death, annihilation]. word study 21 You must not [wrong or afflict] exploit or [mistreat] oppress a foreign resident [stranger, sojourner], for you yourselves were [once, previously] foreigners [strangers, sojourners] in the land of Egypt. word study 22 You must not [take advantage of, afflict] mistreat [oppress, humble] any [namely, specifically] widow [a woman whose husband is dead] or [fatherless, without a parent] orphan [a child without a father]. word study 23 If you do mistreat [cruelly oppress, afflict in any way] them, and they cry out [call at all, with a cry for help] to Me in distress [trouble, vexation], I will surely [certainly, without fail] hear their cry [give ear, respond to their plea]. word study 24 My anger [wrath, fierce indignation] will be kindled [burned, enkindled], and I will kill you with the sword [by the sword, through war]; then your wives will become [be] widows [without husbands, alone] and your children will be [left] fatherless [without fathers, orphaned]. word study 25 If [under these conditions, in this situation] you lend money to one of My people [a neighbor, fellow Israelite] among you who is poor [needy, impoverished], you must not act as a creditor [a moneylender, usurer] to him; you are not to charge him interest [usury, excessive fees]. word study 26 If you take your neighbor’s [fellow human, close associate] cloak [garment, covering] as collateral [pledge, security], return it to him by [before, at the time of] sunset [the going down of the sun, end of the day], word study 27 because his cloak [only covering, garment for his skin] is the only covering he has for his body [to keep him warm during the night]. What else will he sleep in [wherein shall he sleep]? And if he cries out to Me [crieth unto me], I will hear [give ear, listen], for I am compassionate [gracious, merciful]. word study 28 You must not [utterly despise or speak evil of] blaspheme [revile or curse] God [the one true Almighty] or [speak ill of or rail against] curse [invoke harm upon] the ruler [leader or prince] of your people [nation or community]. word study 29 You must not hold back [delay or withhold] offerings [firstfruits, the best part] from your granaries [storehouses, treasure] or vats [winepresses, containers]. You are to give Me [surrender, dedicate] the firstborn [first in rank, preeminent] of your sons [male children, descendants]. word study 30 You shall do likewise [in a similar manner] with your cattle [oxen, livestock] and your sheep [flocks, herds]. Let them stay [remain, be with] with their mothers [dams, female parents] for seven days [a week, a complete cycle], but on the eighth day [after a full week] you are to give [offer, surrender] them to Me [as a sacrifice, in dedication]. word study 31 You are to be My holy [set apart, consecrated] people. You must not eat the meat [flesh, carcass] of a mauled [torn, killed] animal found in the field; you are to throw it [cast it, give it] to the dogs. word study