Exodus

Describes how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and how they receive laws from God.

Chapter 22

1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

*If someone steals and kills or sells another person's ox or sheep, they must pay back five oxen for each ox and four sheep for each sheep.

2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

*If a thief is caught breaking in and gets hurt so much that they might die, no more blood should be spilled for them.

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

*If the sun rises on someone who stole something, they must pay for what they took or face being sold to cover their theft if they can't pay otherwise.

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

*If the thief is caught with stolen items like an ox, donkey, or sheep, they must pay back twice the value.

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

*If a man lets his animal eat another person's field or vineyard, and feeds his animal in someone else's field, he must pay back the best part of his own field and vineyard as compensation.

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

*If a fire starts and spreads to thorns, causing the stored grain, standing grain, or field to burn, the person who started the fire must pay for the damage.

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

*If a person gives their neighbor money or items to store, and they get stolen from the owner's home, if the thief is caught, they must pay twice the original amount.

8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.

*If the thief isn't caught, the homeowner will go to the judges to find out if they took their neighbor's things.

9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

*For any kind of mistake, like with cows, donkeys, sheep, clothes, or anything lost that someone says is theirs, the two sides go to court. If the judges decide against you, you must pay double to your neighbor.

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

*If a person gives their neighbor an animal, like a donkey, cow, or sheep, for safekeeping. But then the animal dies, gets injured, or is stolen without anyone witnessing it, there's no one to blame.

11 Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

*Then, the LORD will make a promise between them that he didn't take anything from their neighbor's stuff. The owner will agree to this, and he won't try to fix it.

12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

*If something is taken from someone, the person who took it must give it back to its rightful owner.

13 If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

*If something is ripped, have them bring it as evidence, but they can't fix what was torn.

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

*If a man borrows something from a neighbor and it gets damaged or dies, and the owner isn't present, he must replace it for sure.

15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

*But if the owner doesn't have it, they can't fix it; if it's something borrowed, they got it for a price.

16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.

*If a man persuades an unmarried girl to have sex with him, he must marry her after.

17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

*If her father doesn't agree to give her, he must pay a dowry amount for virgins.

18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

*Do not allow a witch to continue living.

19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

*Whoever has sex with an animal will be executed for sure.

20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

*Anyone who offers sacrifices to a god other than the LORD will face complete destruction.

21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

*Do not annoy or mistreat a foreigner, nor treat them unfairly. Remember, you were once strangers in Egypt's land.

22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

*Do not hurt or mistreat any widows or children without parents.

23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

*If you harm them in any way, and they call out to me at all, I will listen to their cries.

24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

*My anger will grow strong, and I will use a sword to destroy you. Your wives will become widows, and your children will be without fathers.

25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

*If you lend money to a poor person from my people, don't act like a greedy lender, and don't charge them extra interest.

26 If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

*If you borrow your neighbor's clothes as collateral, return them before sunset.

27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

*That's just his protection; it's his clothing for his body. Where will he rest? And when he calls out to me, I will listen; because I am kind.

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

*Do not insult the gods or curse the leader of your people.

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

*Do not wait to give your ripest fruits and drinks to me; also, give the firstborn of your sons to me.

30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

*So, you should also treat your cows and sheep the same way. Keep them with their moms for seven days, then on the eighth day, give it to me.

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

*You will be my holy people. Don't eat meat that animals ripped apart in fields. Give it to the dogs instead.

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