Protection of Property
In Hebrew texts 22:1 is numbered 21:37, and 22:2-31 is numbered 22:1-30. 1“Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
2“If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; 3but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.
“Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. 4If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.
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 from the best of their own field or vineyard.
6“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
7“If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. 8But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must22:8 Or before God, and he will determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property. 9In 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.22:9 Or before God The one whom the judges declare22:9 Or whom God declares 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 and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking, 11the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath 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. 12But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner. 13If 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.
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. 15But 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.
Social Responsibility
16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
18“Do not allow a sorceress to live.
19“Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.
20“Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed.22:20 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
21“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
22“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. 23If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. 24My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.
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. 26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, 27because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28“Do not blaspheme God22:28 Or Do not revile the judges or curse the ruler of your people.
29“Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.22:29 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
“You must give me the firstborn of your sons. 30Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
31“You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.
Ulinzi Wa Mali
122:1 Law 6:1-7; 2Sam 12:6; Mit 6:31; Lk 19:8“Kama mtu akiiba maksai au kondoo na kumchinja au kumuuza, ni lazima alipe ngʼombe watano badala ya maksai mmoja na kondoo wanne badala ya kondoo mmoja.
222:2 Ay 24:16; Yer 2:34; Hos 7:1; Mt 6:19-20; 24:43; Hes 35:27; Kut 20:15; Law 19:11; Kum 5:19; Lk 18:20; Rum 13:9; Efe 4:28; 1Pet 4:15“Kama mwizi akishikwa anavunja nyumba akapigwa hata akafa, aliyemuua hana hatia ya kumwaga damu; 322:3 Kut 21:2; Mt 18:25lakini jambo hilo likitokea wakati jua limechomoza, huyo mtu atakuwa na hatia ya kumwaga damu.
“Mwizi huyo sharti alipe, lakini kama hana kitu, lazima auzwe ili alipe kwa ajili ya wizi wake.
422:4 1Sam 12:5; Mwa 43:12; Kut 21:16; Mit 6:31“Kama mnyama aliyeibwa akikutwa hai mikononi mwake, ikiwa ni maksai au punda au kondoo, lazima alipe mara mbili.
5“Kama mtu akichunga mifugo yake katika shamba au shamba la mizabibu, na akawaachia wajilishe katika shamba la mtu mwingine, ni lazima alipe vitu bora kutoka kwenye shamba lake mwenyewe au kutoka shamba lake la mizabibu.
622:6 Amu 15:5“Kama moto ukiwaka na kuenea kwenye vichaka vya miiba na kuteketeza miganda ya nafaka au nafaka ambayo haijavunwa, au kuteketeza shamba lote, mtu yule aliyewasha moto lazima alipe.
722:7 Law 6:2; Mwa 43:12“Kama mtu akimpa jirani yake fedha au mali nyingine amtunzie, na kama vikiibwa kutoka nyumba ya huyo jirani, kama mwizi atashikwa, lazima alipe mara mbili. 822:8 Kut 21:6; Kum 17:8-9Lakini mwizi asipopatikana, mwenye nyumba atafika mbele ya waamuzi ili kuthibitisha kuwa hakuchukua mali ya mwenzake. 922:9 Kum 25:1Pakiwepo jambo lolote la mali isiyo halali, ikiwa ni maksai, punda, kondoo, mavazi, ama mali yoyote iliyopotea ambayo fulani atasema, ‘Hii ni mali yangu,’ pande zote mbili wataleta mashauri yao mbele ya waamuzi. Yule ambaye waamuzi watamwona kuwa na hatia atamlipa jirani yake mara mbili.
10“Kama mtu akimpa jirani yake punda, ngʼombe, kondoo au mnyama mwingine yeyote amtunzie, akifa au akijeruhiwa au akichukuliwa wakati haonekani na mtu yeyote, 1122:11 Law 6:3; 1Fal 8:31; 2Nya 6:22; Ebr 6:16jambo hili kati yao wawili litaamuliwa kwa kuapa kiapo mbele za Bwana, kwamba huyo jirani hakuhusika na wizi wa mali ya jirani yake. Mwenye mali itampasa akubali jambo hili, na hakuna malipo yatakayohitajika. 12Lakini kama mnyama aliibwa kwa jirani, itampasa amlipe mwenye mnyama. 1322:13 Mwa 31:39Kama ameraruliwa na mnyama pori, ataleta mabaki ya mnyama kama ushahidi, naye hatadaiwa kulipa mnyama aliyeraruliwa.
14“Kama mtu akimwazima mnyama kutoka kwa jirani yake, na kama akiumia au akafa na mwenye mnyama hayupo, lazima amlipe huyo mnyama. 1522:15 Law 19:13; Ay 17:5Lakini mwenye mnyama akiwa angalipo na mnyama wake, mwazimaji hatalazimika kumlipa. Kama mnyama alikuwa amekodishwa, fedha iliyolipwa kwa kukodisha inatosha kwa kufidia hasara.
Uwajibikaji Wa Kijamii
1622:16 Kum 22:28; Mwa 34:12“Kama mtu akimshawishi bikira ambaye hajaposwa na akilala naye, lazima alipe mahari, kisha atamwoa msichana huyo. 17Baba wa msichana akikataa katakata kumpa huyo mtu huyo msichana wake, bado ni lazima huyo mtu atalipa mahari kama inavyostahili malipo ya ubikira.
1822:18 Kut 7:11; Law 19:26, 31; 20:27; Kum 18:17; 1Sam 28:3; 2Nya 33:6; Isa 57:3“Usiruhusu mwanamke mchawi aishi.
1922:19 Law 18:23; 20:15; Kum 27:21“Mtu yeyote aziniye na mnyama lazima auawe.
2022:20 Kut 20:23; 22:21“Mtu awaye yote anayemtolea mungu mwingine dhabihu isipokuwa Bwana, lazima aangamizwe.
21“Usimtendee mgeni vibaya au kumwonea, kwa kuwa nanyi mlikuwa wageni huko Misri.
2222:22 Kum 10:18; 24:6, 10-17; Ay 22:6-9; 24:3; 21; Za 68:5; 146:9; Mit 23:10; Isa 1:17; Yer 7:5-6; 21:12; 22:3; Eze 18:5-12; Zek 7:9-10; Mal 3:5; Yak 1:27“Usimdhulumu mjane wala yatima. 2322:23 Lk 18:7; Kum 10:18; 15:9; 24:15; Ay 34:28; 35:9; Za 10:14-17; 12:5; 18:6; Yak 5:4Kama ukifanya hivyo nao wakinililia, hakika nitasikia kilio chao. 2422:24 Za 10:9; 69:24; Mao 5:3Hasira yangu itawaka, nami nitawaua kwa upanga, wake zenu watakuwa wajane na watoto wenu watakuwa yatima.
2522:25 Law 25:35-37; Kum 15:7-11; 23:20; Neh 5:7-10; Za 15:5; Eze 18:8“Kama ukimkopesha mmojawapo wa watu wangu fedha ambaye ni mhitaji, usiwe kama mtu mkopesha fedha; usimtoze riba. 2622:26 Mit 20:16; Eze 33:15; Amo 2:8Kama ukichukua vazi la jirani kama rehani, ulirudishe kwake kabla jua kuzama, 2722:27 Kum 24:13, 17; Ay 22:6; 24:7; 29:11; 31:19-20; Eze 18:12, 16; Kut 34:6; Kum 4:31; 2Nya 30:9; Neh 9:17; Za 99:8; 103:8; 116:5; 145:8; Yoe 2:13; Yon 4:2kwa kuwa vazi lake ndilo pekee alilo nalo la kumfunika mwili wake. Ni nini kingine atajifunika nacho? Atakaponililia, nitasikia, kwa kuwa nina huruma.
2822:28 Kut 20:7; 2Sam 16:5, 9; 1Sam 19:21; 1Fal 21:10; 2Fal 2:23; Za 102; 8; Mhu 10:20; Mdo 23:5“Usimkufuru Mungu au kumlaani mtawala wa watu wako.
2922:29 Kut 23:15-19; 34:20-26; Law 19:24; 23:10; Hes 18:13; 28:26; Kum 18:4; 26:2, 10; 1Sam 6:3; Neh 10:35; Mit 3:9; Mal 3:10; Kut 13:2; Hes 8:16-17; Lk 2:23“Usiache kutoa sadaka kutoka ghala lako au mapipa yako.
“Lazima unipe mzaliwa wa kwanza wa wana wako. 3022:30 Kut 34:19; Kum 15:19; Law 12:3; 22:27; Mwa 17:12Ufanye vivyo hivyo kwa ngʼombe wako na kwa kondoo wako. Waache wakae na mama zao kwa siku saba, lakini siku ya nane unipe.
3122:31 Kut 19:6; Law 19:2; 22:31; Ezr 9:2; Law 7:24; 17:15; 22:8; Kum 14:21; Eze 4:14; 44:31“Ninyi mtakuwa watu wangu watakatifu. Kwa hiyo msile nyama ya mnyama aliyeraruliwa na wanyama pori; mtupieni mbwa.
