Exodus 22:16-31

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. 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 God 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. 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.