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Exodus 21-24
New American Standard Bible

Ordinances for the People

21 “Now these are the (A)ordinances which you are to set before them:

2 “If you buy (B)a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall leave as a free man without a payment to you. 3 If he comes [a]alone, he shall leave [b]alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall leave with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave [c]alone. 5 But (C)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to [d]God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an [e]awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

7 “Now (D)if a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to [f]go free (E)as the male slaves [g]do. 8 If she is [h]displeasing in the eyes of her master [i]who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people, because of his [j]unfairness to her. 9 And if he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her [k]food, her clothing, or (F)her conjugal rights. 11 But if he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go [l]free for nothing, without payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 “(G)He who strikes someone so that he dies shall certainly be put to death. 13 (H)Yet [m]if he did not lie in wait for him, but (I)God caused him to fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee. 14 (J)If, however, someone is enraged against his neighbor, so as to kill him in a cunning way, you are to take him even from My altar, to be put to death.

15 “And one who strikes his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

16 “Now (K)one who [n]kidnaps someone, whether he sells him or he is found in his [o]possession, shall certainly be put to death.

17 “And (L)one who curses his father or his mother shall certainly be put to death.

18 “Now if people have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with a fist, and he does not die but [p]is confined to bed, 19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his [q]loss of time, and [r]shall pay for his care until he is completely healed.

20 “And if someone strikes his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies [s]at his hand, he shall [t]be punished. 21 If, however, the slave [u]survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; (M)for the slave is his [v]property.

22 “Now if people struggle with each other and strike a pregnant woman so that [w]she gives birth prematurely, but there is no injury, the guilty person shall certainly be fined as the woman’s husband [x]may demand of him, and he shall (N)pay [y]as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, (O)then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 (P)eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, [z]bruise for bruise.

26 “And if someone strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he shall let [aa]the slave go free on account of the eye. 27 And if he [ab]knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let [ac]the slave go free on account of the tooth.

28 “Now if an ox gores a man or a woman [ad]to death, (Q)the ox shall certainly be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. 29 If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If a ransom is [ae]demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is [af]demanded of him. 31 Whether it gores a son or [ag]a daughter, it shall be done to him according to [ah]the same rule. 32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, [ai]the owner shall give his or her master [aj](R)thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Property Rights

33 “Now if someone opens a pit, or [ak]digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall [al]give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.

35 “And if someone’s ox injures another’s ox so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its proceeds equally; and they shall also divide the dead ox. 36 Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he must make restitution of ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.

Property Rights

22 “[am]If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and (S)four sheep for the sheep— 2 [an]If the (T)thief is [ao]caught while [ap]breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account—A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be (U)sold for his theft. 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his [aq]possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, (V)he shall pay double.

5 “If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

7 “(W)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [ar]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [as]caught, then the thief shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not [at]caught, then the owner of the house shall [au]appear before [av](X)the judges, to determine whether he [aw]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 For every [ax]breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the [ay]case of both parties shall come before [az](Y)the judges; he whom [ba]the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an (Z)oath before the Lord shall be [bb]taken by the two of them [bc]that he has not [bd]laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14 “And if someone [be]borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it [bf]came by its hire.

Various Laws

16 “(AA)If a man seduces a virgin who is not [bg]betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [bh]dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [bi]pay money equal to the (AB)dowry for virgins.

18 “You shall not allow a (AC)sorceress to live.

19 “(AD)Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.

20 “(AE)He who sacrifices to [bj]any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [bk]utterly destroyed.

21 “(AF)You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 (AG)You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and (AH)if he does cry out to Me, (AI)I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, (AJ)and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 “(AK)If you lend money to My people, to the poor [bl]among you, you are not to [bm]act as a creditor to him; you shall not [bn]charge him (AL)interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak (AM)as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his [bo]body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that (AN)when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for (AO)I am gracious.

28 “You shall not [bp](AP)curse God, (AQ)nor curse a ruler of your people.

29 “(AR)You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your [bq]wine. (AS)The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 (AT)You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; (AU)on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “(AV)You shall be holy people to Me, therefore (AW)you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Various Laws

23 “(AX)You shall not give a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked person to be a (AY)malicious witness. 2 You shall not follow [br]the crowd in doing evil, nor shall you [bs]testify in a dispute so as to join together with [bt]a crowd in order to (AZ)pervert justice; 3 (BA)nor shall you [bu]show favor to a poor person in his dispute.

4 “(BB)If you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him. 5 (BC)If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for [bv]its owner; you must arrange the load with him.

6 “(BD)You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7 (BE)Keep far from a false charge, and (BF)do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for (BG)I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “(BH)You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and [bw]subverts the cause of the just.

9 “(BI)You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the [bx]feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The Sabbath and the Land

10 “Now (BJ)you shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, 11 but in the seventh year you shall let it [by]rest and lie uncultivated, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the animal of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “(BK)For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as the stranger residing with you, may refresh themselves. 13 Now (BL)concerning everything which I have said to you, be careful; and (BM)do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard [bz]from your mouth.

Three National Feasts

14 “(BN)Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me. 15 You shall keep (BO)the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the (BP)month of Abib, for in [ca]that month you came out of Egypt. And [cb](BQ)no one is to appear before Me empty-handed. 16 Also you shall keep (BR)the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year (BS)when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 (BT)Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord [cc]God.

18 “(BU)You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; (BV)nor is the fat of My [cd]feast to remain overnight until morning.

19 “You shall bring (BW)the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God.

“(BX)You are not to boil a young goat in the milk of its mother.

Conquest of the Land

20 “Behold, I am going to send (BY)an angel before you to guard you along the way and (BZ)to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Be attentive to him and obey his voice; (CA)do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your rebellion, since (CB)My name is in him. 22 But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then (CC)I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 23 (CD)For My angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them. 24 (CE)You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their deeds; (CF)but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their (CG)memorial stones in pieces. 25 (CH)And you shall serve the Lord your God, [ce]and He will bless your bread and your water; and (CI)I will remove sickness from your midst. 26 There will be no one miscarrying or (CJ)unable to have children in your land; (CK)I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will (CL)send My terror ahead of you, and (CM)throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will (CN)make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 And I will send (CO)hornets ahead of you so that they will (CP)drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from you. 29 (CQ)I will not drive them out from you in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and the animals of the field become too numerous for you. 30 I will drive them out from you (CR)little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. 31 (CS)I will set your boundary from the [cf]Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River; (CT)for I will hand over the inhabitants of the land to you, and you will (CU)drive them out from you. 32 (CV)You shall [cg]make no covenant with them (CW)or with their gods. 33 (CX)They shall not live in your land, otherwise they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, (CY)it is certain to be a snare to you.”

People Affirm Their Covenant with God

24 Then He said to Moses, “(CZ)Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, (DA)Nadab and Abihu, and (DB)seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall approach the Lord, but they shall not approach, nor shall the people come up with him.”

3 Then Moses came and reported to the people all the words of the Lord and all the [ch]ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “(DC)All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 And (DD)Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an (DE)altar [ci]at the foot of the mountain with twelve memorial stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, (DF)and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 (DG)Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took (DH)the Book of the Covenant and read it [cj]as the people listened; and they said, “(DI)All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” 8 So (DJ)Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold (DK)the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has [ck]made with you [cl]in accordance with all these words.”

9 Then Moses went up [cm]with Aaron, (DL)Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and (DM)they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet [cn](DN)there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, [co]as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not reach out with His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and (DO)they saw God, and they ate and drank.

12 Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and [cp]stay there, and (DP)I will give you the stone tablets [cq]with the Law and the [cr]commandments which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses got up [cs]along with (DQ)Joshua his [ct]servant, and Moses went up to (DR)the mountain of God. 14 But to the elders he said, “(DS)Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, (DT)Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever [cu]has a legal matter, have him approach them.” 15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and (DU)the cloud covered the mountain. 16 (DV)The glory of the Lord [cv]settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He (DW)called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 17 (DX)And to the eyes of the sons of Israel, the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a (DY)consuming fire on the mountain top. 18 Then Moses entered the midst of the cloud [cw]as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain for (DZ)forty days and forty nights.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:3 Lit by himself
  2. Exodus 21:3 Lit by himself
  3. Exodus 21:4 Lit by himself
  4. Exodus 21:6 Or the judges (who acted in God’s name)
  5. Exodus 21:6 I.e., a pointed tool
  6. Exodus 21:7 Lit go out
  7. Exodus 21:7 Lit go out
  8. Exodus 21:8 Lit bad
  9. Exodus 21:8 Another reading is so that he did not designate her
  10. Exodus 21:8 Lit dealing treacherously
  11. Exodus 21:10 Lit flesh
  12. Exodus 21:11 Lit out
  13. Exodus 21:13 Lit he who
  14. Exodus 21:16 Lit steals
  15. Exodus 21:16 Lit hand
  16. Exodus 21:18 Lit lies in
  17. Exodus 21:19 Lit his sitting
  18. Exodus 21:19 Lit healing, he shall cause to be healed
  19. Exodus 21:20 Lit under
  20. Exodus 21:20 Lit suffer vengeance
  21. Exodus 21:21 Lit stands
  22. Exodus 21:21 Lit money
  23. Exodus 21:22 Or an untimely birth occurs; lit her children come out
  24. Exodus 21:22 Lit lays on him
  25. Exodus 21:22 Lit by arbitration
  26. Exodus 21:25 Lit welt
  27. Exodus 21:26 Lit him go...his eye
  28. Exodus 21:27 Lit causes to fall
  29. Exodus 21:27 Lit him go...his tooth
  30. Exodus 21:28 Lit so that he dies
  31. Exodus 21:30 Lit laid on him
  32. Exodus 21:30 Lit laid on him
  33. Exodus 21:31 Lit gores a daughter
  34. Exodus 21:31 Lit this judgment
  35. Exodus 21:32 Lit he
  36. Exodus 21:32 About 15 oz. or 425 gm
  37. Exodus 21:33 Lit if a man digs
  38. Exodus 21:34 Lit give back
  39. Exodus 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Heb
  40. Exodus 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Heb
  41. Exodus 22:2 Lit found
  42. Exodus 22:2 I.e., at night; cf. v 3
  43. Exodus 22:4 Lit hand
  44. Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
  45. Exodus 22:7 Lit found
  46. Exodus 22:8 Lit found
  47. Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
  48. Exodus 22:8 Or God
  49. Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
  50. Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
  51. Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
  52. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  53. Exodus 22:9 Or God
  54. Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
  55. Exodus 22:11 Lit if
  56. Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
  57. Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
  58. Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss
  59. Exodus 22:16 A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together
  60. Exodus 22:16 I.e., bride-price
  61. Exodus 22:17 Lit weigh out silver
  62. Exodus 22:20 Lit the gods
  63. Exodus 22:20 Lit put under the ban
  64. Exodus 22:25 Lit with
  65. Exodus 22:25 Lit be
  66. Exodus 22:25 Lit lay upon
  67. Exodus 22:27 Lit skin
  68. Exodus 22:28 Or revile
  69. Exodus 22:29 Lit juice
  70. Exodus 23:2 Lit many
  71. Exodus 23:2 Or answer
  72. Exodus 23:2 Lit many
  73. Exodus 23:3 Lit honor
  74. Exodus 23:5 Lit him
  75. Exodus 23:8 Or distorts the words
  76. Exodus 23:9 Lit soul
  77. Exodus 23:11 Lit drop
  78. Exodus 23:13 Lit on
  79. Exodus 23:15 Lit it
  80. Exodus 23:15 Lit they shall not
  81. Exodus 23:17 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  82. Exodus 23:18 Or festival
  83. Exodus 23:25 Or that He may bless
  84. Exodus 23:31 Lit Sea of Reeds
  85. Exodus 23:32 Lit cut
  86. Exodus 24:3 Or judgments
  87. Exodus 24:4 Lit beneath
  88. Exodus 24:7 Lit in the ears of the people;
  89. Exodus 24:8 Lit cut
  90. Exodus 24:8 Lit on all
  91. Exodus 24:9 Lit and
  92. Exodus 24:10 Lit like a pavement
  93. Exodus 24:10 Lit and as
  94. Exodus 24:12 Lit be
  95. Exodus 24:12 Lit and
  96. Exodus 24:12 Lit commandment
  97. Exodus 24:13 Lit and
  98. Exodus 24:13 Or minister
  99. Exodus 24:14 Lit is a master of matters
  100. Exodus 24:16 Lit dwelt
  101. Exodus 24:18 Lit and
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Exodus 21-24
New International Version

21 “These are the laws(A) you are to set before them:

Hebrew Servants(B)(C)

2 “If you buy a Hebrew servant,(D) he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free,(E) without paying anything. 3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’(F) 6 then his master must take him before the judges.[a](G) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce(H) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.(I)

7 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. 8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself,[b] he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. 10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.(J) 11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

Personal Injuries

12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.(K) 13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place(L) I will designate. 14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately,(M) that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.(N)

15 “Anyone who attacks[c] their father or mother is to be put to death.

16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death,(O) whether the victim has been sold(P) or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.(Q)

18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist[d] and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.

20 “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.(R)

22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[e] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands(S) and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,(T) 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth,(U) hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death,(V) and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up(W) and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded.(X) 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels[f](Y) of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

33 “If anyone uncovers a pit(Z) or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.

35 “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up,(AA) the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

Protection of Property

22 [g]“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back(AB) five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.

2 “If a thief is caught breaking in(AC) at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;(AD) 3 but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.

“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution,(AE) but if they have nothing, they must be sold(AF) to pay for their theft. 4 If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession(AG)—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.(AH)

5 “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution(AI) from the best of their own field or vineyard.

6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks(AJ) of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.(AK)

7 “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping(AL) and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.(AM) 8 But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges,(AN) and they must[h] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.[i](AO) The one whom the judges declare[j] guilty must pay back double to the other.

10 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping(AP) and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11 the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath(AQ) before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required. 12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution(AR) must be made to the owner. 13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.(AS)

14 “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.(AT) 15 But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.(AU)

Social Responsibility

16 “If a man seduces a virgin(AV) who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price,(AW) and she shall be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

18 “Do not allow a sorceress(AX) to live.

19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal(AY) is to be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god(AZ) other than the Lord must be destroyed.[k](BA)

21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner,(BB) for you were foreigners(BC) in Egypt.

22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.(BD) 23 If you do and they cry out(BE) to me, I will certainly hear their cry.(BF) 24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.(BG)

25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.(BH) 26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge,(BI) return it by sunset, 27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in?(BJ) When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.(BK)

28 “Do not blaspheme God[l](BL) or curse(BM) the ruler of your people.(BN)

29 “Do not hold back offerings(BO) from your granaries or your vats.[m]

“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.(BP) 30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep.(BQ) Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.(BR)

31 “You are to be my holy people.(BS) So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts;(BT) throw it to the dogs.

Laws of Justice and Mercy

23 “Do not spread false reports.(BU) Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.(BV)

2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice(BW) by siding with the crowd,(BX) 3 and do not show favoritism(BY) to a poor person in a lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s(BZ) ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.(CA) 5 If you see the donkey(CB) of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

6 “Do not deny justice(CC) to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 Have nothing to do with a false charge(CD) and do not put an innocent(CE) or honest person to death,(CF) for I will not acquit the guilty.(CG)

8 “Do not accept a bribe,(CH) for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.

9 “Do not oppress a foreigner;(CI) you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

Sabbath Laws

10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused.(CJ) Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “Six days do your work,(CK) but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.(CL)

13 “Be careful(CM) to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods;(CN) do not let them be heard on your lips.(CO)

The Three Annual Festivals

14 “Three times(CP) a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.

15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread;(CQ) for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv,(CR) for in that month you came out of Egypt.

“No one is to appear before me empty-handed.(CS)

16 “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest(CT) with the firstfruits(CU) of the crops you sow in your field.

“Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering(CV) at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.(CW)

17 “Three times(CX) a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.

18 “Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast.(CY)

“The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning.(CZ)

19 “Bring the best of the firstfruits(DA) of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.(DB)

God’s Angel to Prepare the Way

20 “See, I am sending an angel(DC) ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.(DD) 21 Pay attention to him and listen(DE) to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive(DF) your rebellion,(DG) since my Name(DH) is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do(DI) all that I say, I will be an enemy(DJ) to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites,(DK) and I will wipe them out. 24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship(DL) them or follow their practices.(DM) You must demolish(DN) them and break their sacred stones(DO) to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God,(DP) and his blessing(DQ) will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness(DR) from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren(DS) in your land. I will give you a full life span.(DT)

27 “I will send my terror(DU) ahead of you and throw into confusion(DV) every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.(DW) 28 I will send the hornet(DX) ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites(DY) out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals(DZ) too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession(EA) of the land.

31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea[n] to the Mediterranean Sea,[o] and from the desert to the Euphrates River.(EB) I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out(EC) before you. 32 Do not make a covenant(ED) with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare(EE) to you.”

The Covenant Confirmed

24 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron,(EF) Nadab and Abihu,(EG) and seventy of the elders(EH) of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach(EI) the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.”

3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,(EJ) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”(EK) 4 Moses then wrote(EL) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar(EM) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars(EN) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings(EO) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings(EP) to the Lord. 6 Moses(EQ) took half of the blood(ER) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed(ES) against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant(ET) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”(EU)

8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people(EV) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant(EW) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders(EX) of Israel went up 10 and saw(EY) the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,(EZ) as bright blue as the sky.(FA) 11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw(FB) God, and they ate and drank.(FC)

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone(FD) with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

13 Then Moses set out with Joshua(FE) his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain(FF) of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur(FG) are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute(FH) can go to them.”

15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud(FI) covered it, 16 and the glory(FJ) of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai.(FK) For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.(FL) 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire(FM) on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty(FN) days and forty nights.(FO)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:6 Or before God
  2. Exodus 21:8 Or master so that he does not choose her
  3. Exodus 21:15 Or kills
  4. Exodus 21:18 Or with a tool
  5. Exodus 21:22 Or she has a miscarriage
  6. Exodus 21:32 That is, about 12 ounces or about 345 grams
  7. Exodus 22:1 In Hebrew texts 22:1 is numbered 21:37, and 22:2-31 is numbered 22:1-30.
  8. Exodus 22:8 Or before God, and he will
  9. Exodus 22:9 Or before God
  10. Exodus 22:9 Or whom God declares
  11. Exodus 22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  12. Exodus 22:28 Or Do not revile the judges
  13. Exodus 22:29 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  14. Exodus 23:31 Or the Sea of Reeds
  15. Exodus 23:31 Hebrew to the Sea of the Philistines
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Exodus 20
Exodus 25
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