Study Desk

"When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed,

then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.

"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.

But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.

"When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye.

If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.

If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.

the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.

Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

"If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.

"If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.

If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property.

For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

"If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it,

an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution.

"If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution.

"If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.

for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.