22 If someone steals a cow or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must compensate five cattle for the cow or four sheep for the sheep.

2 (If a thief is discovered at night while breaking in, and is struck and dies, no one should be charged for murder. 3 But if it’s daylight already, then that person is guilty of murder.)

A thief who’s caught must make restitution, but if they’re unable to pay, then the thief must be sold to cover it. 4 If a thief is found in the possession of a stolen animal, be it a cow or a donkey or a sheep, then they must pay back another matching animal as well.[fn]

5 If a person releases their livestock to graze their own field or vineyard, and it ends up grazing in the someone else’s field, the owner of the animal must compensate from the best of their field and from the best of their vineyard.

6 If a fire breaks out and spreads in the bush, and grain that’s already stacked or is still in the field gets burnt up, the person who started the fire must certainly pay compensation.

7 If anyone gives their neighbour money or goods for safekeeping, and if it is stolen from the neighbour’s house, if the thief is found, they must pay double in compensation. 8 If the thief can’t be found, then the owner of the house must be brought to the judges for God’s decision as to whether or not they have improperly handled their neighbour’s property.

9 Concerning every other squabble about any cattle or a donkey or sheep, or about clothing or any lost property that’s under dispute, both parties must go to the judges for God’s decision—anyone who God declares to be guilty must pay his neighbour double as compensation.

10 If anyone gives their neighbour a donkey or a cow or a sheep or any animal to look after, and it dies or is injured or disappears without anyone seeing, 11 both of them must declare in front of Yahweh as to whether or not they improperly handled their neighbour’s property. The owner must accept the sworn statement and no compensation is required, 12 but if it was truly stolen from the neighbour, they must pay compensation to the owner. 13 If it was truly killed by a some other animal, the neighbour must bring the remains as evidence, and no compensation is required.

14 If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbour and it gets injured or dies without the owner being with it, the person who borrowed it must pay compensation, 15 but if its owner was there with it, no compensation is required—if it was for hire, then that was included in its hiring fee.