Exodus 22:1-15

Laws concerning Restitution

22¹ "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep . ² "If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies , there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account. ³ "But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution ; if he owns nothing , then he shall be sold for his theft . ⁴ "If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession , whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep , he shall pay double . ⁵ "If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another man'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 , so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed , he who started the fire shall surely make restitution .

⁷ " If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man's house , if the thief is caught , he shall pay double . ⁸ "If the thief is not caught , then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges , to determine whether e he laid his hands on his neighbor's property . ⁹ "For every 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 case of both parties shall come before the judges ; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor . ¹⁰ "If a man gives his neighbor a donkey , an ox , a sheep , or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking , ¹¹ an oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them that he has not laid hands on his neighbor's property ; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not 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 , let him bring it as evidence ; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces. ¹⁴ "If a man borrows anything 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, he shall not make restitution ; if it is hired , it came for its hire .