Exodus 21
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Laws for Servants

(Deuteronomy 15:12-18)

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1"These are the laws you are to set before them:1“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.1"Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:1Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.1These are the ordinances that you must set before them:"
2"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.2When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.2"If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.2If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.2When you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for six years; then in the seventh he is to leave as a free man without paying anything.
3If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.3If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.3"If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him.3If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.3If he arrives alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrives with a wife, his wife is to leave with him.
4If 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.4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone.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 go out alone.4If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.4If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children belong to her master, and the man must leave alone."
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5"But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,'5But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’5"But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,'5And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:5But if the slave declares: 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I do not want to leave as a free man,'
6then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.6then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.6then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.6Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.6his master is to bring him to the judges and then bring him to the door or doorpost. His master must pierce his ear with an awl, and he will serve his master for life."
7"If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.7“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.7"If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to go free as the male slaves do.7And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.7When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she is not to leave as the male slaves do.
8If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her.8If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.8"If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master 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 unfairness to her.8If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.8If she is displeasing to her master, who chose her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners because he has acted treacherously toward her.
9If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter.9If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter.9"If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters.9And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.9Or if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her according to the customary treatment of daughters.
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10If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.10If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights.10"If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights.10If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.10If he takes an additional wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife.
11If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.11And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.11"If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.11And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.11And if he does not do these three things for her, she may leave free of charge, without any exchange of money."

Personal Injury Laws

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12"Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.12“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.12"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.12He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.12Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death.
13However, if it is not done intentionally, but God lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate.13But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee.13"But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.13And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.13But if he didn't intend any harm, and yet God caused it to happen by his hand, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee.
14But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.14But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.14"If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.14But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.14If a person schemes and willfully acts against his neighbor to murder him, you must take him from My altar to be put to death."
15"Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.15“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.15"He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.15And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.15Whoever strikes his father or his mother must be put to death."
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16"Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper's possession.16“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.16"He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.16And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.16Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession."
17"Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.17“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.17"He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.17And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.17Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death."
18"If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed,18“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,18"If men have a quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but remains in bed,18And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:18When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed,
19the 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.19then 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.19if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his loss of time, and shall take care of him until he is completely healed.19If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.19if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time and provide for his complete recovery."
20"Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,20“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.20"If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished.20And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.20When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished.
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21but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.21But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.21"If, however, he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; for he is his property.21Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.21However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner's property."
22"If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows.22“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine.22"If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide.22If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.22When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman's husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment.
23But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,23But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,23"But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,23And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,23If there is an injury, then you must give life for life,
24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.25burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.25burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound."
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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.26“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.26"If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.26And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.26When a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and destroys it, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his eye.
27And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.27If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.27"And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth.27And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.27If he knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free in compensation for his tooth."
28"If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible.28“When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable.28"If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.28If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.28When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its meat may not be eaten, but the ox's owner is innocent.
29If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death.29But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.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.29But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.29However, if the ox was in the habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned, and its owner must also be put to death.
30However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded.30If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.30"If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded of him.30If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.30If instead a ransom is demanded of him, he can pay a redemption price for his life in the full amount demanded from him.
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31This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter.31If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule.31"Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.31Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.31If it gores a son or a daughter, he is to be dealt with according to this same law.
32If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.32If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.32"If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.32If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.32If the ox gores a male or female slave, he must give 30 shekels of silver to the slave's master, and the ox must be stoned."

Laws about Restitution

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33"If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it,33“When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,33"If a man opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it over, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,33And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;33When a man uncovers a pit or digs a pit, and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,
34the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.34the owner of the pit shall make restoration. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead beast shall be his.34the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall become his.34The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.34the owner of the pit must give compensation; he must pay money to its owner, but the dead animal will become his."
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.35“When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share.35"If one man's ox hurts another's so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide its price equally; and also they shall divide the dead ox.35And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.35When a man's ox injures his neighbor's ox and it dies, they must sell the live ox and divide its proceeds; they must also divide the dead animal.
36However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.36Or 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.36"Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not confined it, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall become his.36Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.36If, however, it is known that the ox was in the habit of goring, yet its owner has not restrained it, he must compensate fully, ox for ox; the dead animal will become his."



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