1If a thief is caught breaking into a house and receives a mortal blow, the man who struck him will not be guilty of his death, 2but if it happened after dawn he will be guilty of murder. The thief must make full restitution. If he cannot do this he must be sold for what he has stolen. 3If what has been stolen is found alive in his possession, be it ox, donkey or sheep, he must pay double.
4If a man puts his animals to graze and lets them stray and feed in another man’s field or vineyard, he must make good the loss with the best of his own crop and the best of his vineyard.
5When a fire breaks out and spreads through the thorn bushes and burns the grain that is either stacked or growing there, the one who started the fire must pay for the damage.
6If a man gives money or goods to another to keep for him, and they are stolen, the thief, if he is found, shall pay back double. 7Should the thief not be found, the man who owns the house must swear before the judges that he has not stolen the other man’s property.
8Whenever there is a failure of trust whether it concerns an ox, donkey, sheep, clothing or any other lost object, the case shall come before the judges. The person the judges find guilty shall pay double to the other.
9If a man entrusts to his neighbor his donkey, cow, sheep or other animal, and the animal dies or is injured, or is carried off without being seen, 10an oath before Yahweh shall prove that the man has not stolen the other’s property. The owner of the animal shall accept the oath and the other shall not make restitution. 11But if the animal has been stolen from him, restitution shall be made. 12If the animal was killed by wild beasts, the man must bring the remains as evidence but shall not pay anything.
13When a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and the animal is injured or dies when the owner is not present, the man who borrowed must pay for it. 14But if the owner is present the borrower need not repay.
15If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall pay the “bride price” and marry her. 16If her father refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to that for a virgin given in marriage.
17You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
18Whoever has sexual relations with a beast shall die.
19Whoever sacrifices to any god other than Yahweh shall die.
20You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
21You shall not harm the widow or the orphan. 22If you do harm them and they cry out to me, I will hear them 23and my anger will blaze and I will kill you with the sword, and your own wives will be widows and your own children orphans.
24If you lend money to any of my people who are poor, do not act like a moneylender and do not charge him interest.
25If ever you take a person’s cloak as a pledge, you must give it back to him by sunset, 26for it is all the covering he has for his body. In what else will he sleep? And when he cries to me I will hear him, for I am full of pity.
27Do not revile God or curse a ruler of your people.
28Do not delay in giving me my share of your wheat and your wine.
29You shall give to me the firstborn of your sons. 30It shall be the same for your cattle and sheep. The firstborn shall stay with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31You shall be consecrated to my service. Do not eat flesh that has been torn by wild animals; let it be given to the dogs.
