Parsha Mishpatim

(21,1) And these are the laws that you shall set before them.

(21,2) If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve [you] for six years, but in the seventh [year] he is to go out free, for naught [without liability].

(21,3) If he came by himself [unmarried], he shall go out by himself. If he was married, his wife shall go out with him.

(21,4) If his master should give him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, then the woman and her children belong to her master, and he shall go out by himself.

(21,5) If the slave explicitly says, “I have come to love my master, my wife and my children, I do not want to go out free.”

(21,6) His master must bring him to the judges. He must then bring him next to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl. He then serves his master forever.

(21,7) If a man sells his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out [free] in the manner of male slaves.

(21,8) If she is displeasing to her master, who had not designated her as his wife, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no power [right] to sell her to an alien people for he has dealt deceitfully with her.

(21,9) If he has designated her as a wife for his son, he must grant her exactly the same rights as daughters.

(21,10) If he takes himself another [wife], her sustenance, her clothing and her conjugal rights he must not diminish.

(21,11) If he does not do these three things to her, she goes out free with no repayment of money.

(21,12) If one strikes a man and he [the victim] dies, he shall be put to death.

(21,13) But if he did not lie in wait [to ambush him] but God brought it to his hand, then I will designate for you a place, to which he can flee [and find refuge].

(21,14) But if a man plots against his neighbor to kill him intentionally, you may [even] take him from My altar to put him to death.

(21,15) Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

(21,16) Whoever steals [kidnaps] a man and sells him, if he is found in his hand, he shall be put to death.

(21,17) Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

(21,18) When men quarrel and one man hits his fellow with a stone or with [his] fist; and he [the victim] does not die but becomes bedridden,

(21,19) If he gets up and is able to walk on the outside on his own power, the one who struck him shall be acquitted. Still he must pay for his loss of work, and must pay for his complete cure.

(21,20) If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and [the slave] dies under his hand, [the death] must be avenged.

(21,21) However if he [the slave] survives for a day or two, [his death] is not avenged, for he [the slave] is his [master’s] property.

(21,22) If men will fight and they strike a pregnant woman, causing her to miscarry, but there is no fatal injury [to the woman], he [the guilty one] is to be punished with a [monetary] penalty when the husband demands compensation. He shall pay as determined by the judges.

(21,23) However if there is a fatal injury, you shall give [up] a life for a life.

(21,24) [Compensation of] an eye for an eye, [of] a tooth for a tooth, [of] a hand for a hand, [of] a foot for a foot.

(21,25) [Compensation of] a burn for a burn, [of] a wound for a wound, [of] a bruise for a bruise.

(21,26) If a man strikes the eye of his slave, or the eye of his female slave, and destroys [blinds] it, he shall set him [the slave] free as compensation for the eye.

(21,27) If [he knocks out] the tooth of his slave, or knocks out the tooth of his female slave, he shall set him [the slave] free as compensation for the tooth.

(21,28) If an ox gores a man or woman and the victim dies, the ox shall be stoned [to death], and its flesh may not be eaten. The owner of the ox shall go unpunished.

(21,29) But if the ox had gored yesterday and the day before, and a warning was given to its owner, but he had not taken proper precautions to guard it, and kills a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned, and the owner also shall die [by Divine decree].

(21,30) When an atonement fine shall be imposed on him, he must give for the redemption of his soul whatever sum is imposed on him.

(21,31) Whether it is a son [a minor lad] that is gored or a daughter [a minor girl] that it gored, this law shall apply to it.

(21,32) If the ox gored a male or female slave, he must give thirty silver shekalim to their master, and the ox must be stoned.

(21,33) If a man uncovers a pit, or if a man digs a pit, and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it;

(21,34) The owner of the pit must pay. He must compensate its owner with money, and the dead [animal] remains his [its original owner’s] possesion.

(21,35) If a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they shall sell the live ox and divide the money received for it. They shall also divide [the value of] the dead animal.

(21,36) If it was known that it was a goring ox from yesterday and the day before, but he had not taken proper precaution to guard it, then he must pay full compensation, an ox for an ox. The dead [animal] remains in the possession [of its owner].

(21,37) If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and then slaughters or sells it, he must pay five oxen for each ox, and four sheep for each sheep.

(22,1) If the thief is found [caught] while breaking in, and is struck and killed, there is no liability for his blood.

(22,2) If the sun shone on him, there is liability for his blood. He must make full restitution. If he does not have [the means to do so], he shall be sold [as a slave to pay] for his theft.

(22,3) If the stolen article is found in his hand [possession], whether it is an ox, donkey or sheep, he must pay two live animals.

(22,4) If he damages a field or vineyard with his animal—he lets his livestock loose, and [or] it feeds in another’s field—from his [own] prime field and prime vineyard he must compensate [the owner].

(22,5) If a fire goes out of control and finds [catches on] thorns, and then consumes bound or standing grain or a field, full restitution must be made by the one who started the fire.

(22,6) If a man gives his neighbor money or articles to safeguard and they are stolen from the house of the [watch]man, if the thief is found, he must pay double.

(22,7) If the thief is not found, the owner of the house [the watchman] must come before the judges [Beis Din], [to swear] that he did not lay a hand on his neighbor’s possessions [for his personal use].

(22,8) In every question of dishonesty whether it involves an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything that was [allegedly] lost of which [a witness] says, “This is it!” the claims of both parties must be brought to the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty, must pay double restitution to his neighbor.

(22,9) If a man gives his neighbor, a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal for safeguarding; and it dies, or is injured, or is captured, and there is no eyewitness,

(22,10) an oath to Adonoy shall be between them, that he [the watcher] did not lay his hand on his neighbor’s possession [for his personal use]. The owner must accept it [the oath], and [the watcher] need not make restitution.

(22,11) But if it was indeed stolen from him, he must make restitution to its owner.

(22,12) If it was torn apart [killed by wild beasts], he [the watcher] must provide witnesses. He then need not pay for that which was torn apart.

(22,13) If a man borrows something from his neighbor, and it becomes broken or dies; if the owner is not [involved] with him, he [the borrower] must make full restitution.

(22,14) If the owner is [involved] with him, then he [the borrower] need not make restitution. If it was hired, it [the ox] comes in its rental price.

(22,15) If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her; he must give the dowry to acquire her as his wife.

(22,16) If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he must give [the father] the weight of silver equal to the dowry usually given to virgins.

(22,17) You shall not allow a witch to live.

(22,18) Whoever lies with an animal must be put to death.

(22,19) Whoever slaughters to a god must be condemned [to die]. [Sacrifices may be offered] to Adonoy alone.

(22,20) You must not abuse or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

(22,21) You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.

(22,22) If you do mistreat him [them], when he cries out to Me, I will indeed hear his cry.

(22,23) Then I will cause My anger to flare, and I will kill you by the sword. Your wives will become widows and your children will be orphans.

(22,24) When you lend money to My people, to the poor person who is with [among] you, do not act toward him as a [demanding] creditor. Do not place the burden of interest upon him.

(22,25) If you take your neighbor’s garment as security, you must return it to him till sunset;

(22,26) For this alone is his covering, the garment [to cover] his skin. With what shall he lie down [to sleep]? If it happens that he cries out to Me, I will hear [his cry] for I am gracious.

(22,27) Do not curse judges. Do not curse a leader of your people.

(22,28) [Your offering of] the fullness [of your newly ripened produce] and of your terumah-offering’s you must not delay. The first-born of your sons, you shall give to Me.

(22,29) You must do likewise with your oxen and with your sheep. Seven days it shall remain with its mother. On the eighth day you must give it to Me.

(22,30) You shall be men of holiness to Me, and you must not eat flesh that was torn off in the field. Throw it to the dog.

(23,1) Do not accept a false report. Do not join hands with a wicked man to be a corrupt [false] witness.

(23,2) Do not follow the majority to do evil. Do not respond with your opinion in a dispute [merely] to lean [toward one side]. It must be decided by the majority.

(23,3) Do not show favor [even] to the poor in his dispute.

(23,4) If you come across your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, bring it back to him.

(23,5) If you see the donkey of your enemy lying under its burden, and you might not want to help him, [but you should] make every effort to help him.

(23,6) Do not bend justice [even] for your needy in his dispute.

(23,7) Keep far away from anything false. Do not kill an innocent righteous man, for I will not acquit a wicked person.

(23,8) Do not accept bribery, for bribery blinds the clear-sighted, and perverts the words of justice.

(23,9) Do not oppress a stranger. You [should] know the soul [feelings] of the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

(23,10) You may sow your land for six years, and gather its crops.

(23,11) But on the seventh [year] you must let it rest, and abandon it [by not eating its produce], and let the needy among your people eat it. What they leave over, the beasts of the field can eat. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive [trees].

(23,12) You may do your work six days, but on the seventh day you must cease; so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave may be refreshed, and [also] the stranger.

(23,13) Preserve everything that I have said to you. Do not mention the name of other gods. You must not cause it to be heard through your mouth.

(23,14) Three times a year you are to celebrate with Me.

(23,15) You must keep the festival of Matzos. You must eat matzos for seven days, as I have commanded you. [This festival must be celebrated] at the appointed time, during the month when the grain is ripened, for in it [at this time] you went out of Egypt. Do not appear before My Presence empty-handed.

(23,16) [You must also keep] the Festival of Harvest, [with bringing bikurim] the first fruits of your labor, which you planted in the field; [also] the Festival of Ingathering, at the close of the year, when you gather in [the fruits of] your labor from the field.

(23,17) Three times a year, every male among you must appear before the Presence of the Master, Adonoy.

(23,18) You must not sacrifice—while chometz is present—My [Pesach] sacrifice. You must not allow to remain overnight—the fat of My festival-offering—until morning.

(23,19) The beginning of the first fruits of your land must be brought to the House of Adonoy, your God. You must not cook a young animal in the milk of its mother.

(23,20) Behold, I will send an angel before you, to guard you on the way, and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.

(23,21) Be careful in his presence and heed [obey] his voice. Do not rebel against him; for he cannot bear [pardon] your transgression, as My Name is in him.

(23,22) But if you truly listen to [obey] his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and attack those who attack you.

(23,23) My messenger will go before you, and will bring you into [the land of] the Emorites, the Chittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, Chivites, and the Yevusites, and I will then annihilate them.

(23,24) You must not prostrate yourself to their gods, nor serve [sacrifice to] them. You must not adopt their customs. You must totally destroy [their idols] and completely break down their monuments.

(23,25) You must serve Adonoy, your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. I will eliminate sickness from your midst.

(23,26) No woman will suffer miscarriage or remain childless in your land. I will cause the number of your days to be full.

(23,27) I will send My dread ahead of you, and I will bring panic to all the people among whom you will come. I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

(23,28) I will send [deadly] hornets ahead of you, and they will drive out the Chivites, the Canaanites, and the Chittites from before you.

(23,29) I will not drive them out in a single year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against you.

(23,30) Little by little I will drive them from before you, until you have increased and occupy the land.

(23,31) I will set your borders from the Reed Sea to the Philistine Sea, and from the desert to the [Euphrates] river, for I will deliver into your hands all the inhabitants of the land, and you will drive them away before you.

(23,32) Do not make a pact with them or with their gods.

(23,33) Do not allow them to live in your land, since they may cause you to sin to Me; that you [might] worship their gods, and this would be a [fatal] trap to you.

(24,1) He [God] had said to Moshe, ‘Go up to [the Presence of] Adonoy, you, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu, and seventy of the elders of [the B’nei] Yisrael, and prostrate yourselves at a distance.

(24,2) Moshe alone shall approach [the Presence of] Adonoy, but they must not approach, and the people must not go up with him.”

(24,3) Moshe came and told the people all the words of Adonoy, and all the laws. The people responded with one voice and said, “All the words that Adonoy has spoken, we will do.”

(24,4) Moshe wrote down all the words of Adonoy. He arose early in the morning, and built an altar beneath the mountain, and [also] twelve monuments [pillars] for the twelve tribes of [the B’nei] Yisrael.

(24,5) He sent the youths [first-born] of B’nei Yisrael and they offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed oxen as peace-offerings to Adonoy.

(24,6) Moshe took half the blood and put it in the basins, and [the other] half the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

(24,7) He then took the Book of the Covenant, and read it in the ears of the people. They said, “All that Adonoy has spoken, we will do and we will listen.”

(24,8) Moshe then took the blood and cast it on the people, and he said, “Behold, this is the blood of the covenant which Adonoy has made with you regarding all these words.”

(24,9) Moshe and Aharon then went up along with Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of [the B’nei] Yisrael.

(24,10) They saw [a vision of] the God of Yisrael, and under His feet [there was something] like a brickwork of sapphire, and it was like the essence of heaven in purity.

(24,11) But against the nobility of the B’nei Yisrael, He [God] did not send His hand. They envisioned God, and they ate and drank.

(24,12) Adonoy then said to Moshe, “Come up to Me to the mountain and remain there. I will give you the tablets of stone, the Torah and the commandment, which I have written [in order] to teach them.”

(24,13) Moshe and Yehoshua, his attendant, set out, but [only] Moshe went up to the mountain of God.

(24,14) He [Moshe] said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you, and Aharon and Chur will be with you. Whoever has a claim can approach them.”

(24,15) Moshe went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.

(24,16) The glory of Adonoy rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day, He called to Moshe from the midst of the cloud.

(24,17) The appearance of Adonoy’s glory was like a consuming flame at the top to the mountain; before the eyes of the B’nei Yisrael.

(24,18) And Moshe came into the midst of the cloud. and went up into the mountain. Moshe remained on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.