Exodus 22 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Protection of Property

Exo 22:1 [fn]“If someone steals an ox[fn] 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.

Exo 22:2

Exo 22:2 [fn]“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.

Exo 22:3

Exo 22:3But 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.

Exo 22:4

Exo 22:4If 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.

Exo 22:5

Exo 22:5“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.

Exo 22:6

Exo 22:6“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.

Exo 22:7

Exo 22:7“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.

Exo 22:8

Exo 22:8But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God,[fn] who will determine if he stole the property.

Exo 22:9

Exo 22:9“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[fn] guilty must pay double compensation to the other.

Exo 22:10

Exo 22:10“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.

Exo 22:11

Exo 22:11The 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.

Exo 22:12

Exo 22:12But if the animal was indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner.

Exo 22:13

Exo 22:13If 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.

Exo 22:14

Exo 22:14“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.

Exo 22:15

Exo 22:15But 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.

Social Responsibility

Exo 22:16

Exo 22:16“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.

Exo 22:17

Exo 22:17But 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.

Exo 22:18

Exo 22:18“You must not allow a sorceress to live.

Exo 22:19

Exo 22:19“Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must certainly be put to death.

Exo 22:20

Exo 22:20“Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.[fn]

Exo 22:21

Exo 22:21“You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Exo 22:22

Exo 22:22“You must not exploit a widow or an orphan.

Exo 22:23

Exo 22:23If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry.

Exo 22:24

Exo 22:24My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.

Exo 22:25

Exo 22:25“If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.

Exo 22:26

Exo 22:26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as security for a loan, you must return it before sunset.

Exo 22:27

Exo 22:27This 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.

Exo 22:28

Exo 22:28“You must not dishonor God or curse any of your rulers.

Exo 22:29

Exo 22:29“You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine.
“You must give me your firstborn sons.

Exo 22:30

Exo 22:30“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.

Exo 22:31

Exo 22:31“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.

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NLT Footnotes

(22:1)

Verse 22:1 is numbered 21:37 in Hebrew text.

(22:1)

Or bull, or cow; also in 22:4, 9, 10.

(22:2)

Verses 22:2-31 are numbered 22:1-30 in Hebrew text.

(22:8)

Or before the judges.

(22:9)

Or before the judges, and the person whom the judges declare.

(22:20)

The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

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