Exodus 21-22
New King James Version
The Law Concerning Servants
21 “Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: 2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. 3 If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself. 5 But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.

7 “And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. 11 And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money.

The Law Concerning Violence
12 “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. 13 However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.

14 “But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.

15 “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

16 “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.

17 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

18 “If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, 19 if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed.

20 “And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.

22 “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26 “If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. 27 And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.

Animal Control Laws
28 “If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. 29 But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. 30 If there is imposed on him a sum of money, then he shall pay to redeem his life, whatever is imposed on him. 31 Whether it has gored a son or gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. 32 If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

33 “And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it, 34 the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead animal shall be his.

35 “If one man’s ox hurts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide the money from it; and the dead ox they shall also divide. 36 Or if it was known that the ox tended to thrust in time past, and its owner has not kept it confined, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal shall be his own.

Responsibility for Property
22 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.

5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds 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 fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7 “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.

9 “For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. 10 If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, 11 then an oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. 12 But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. 13 If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.

14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.

Moral and Ceremonial Principles
16 “If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins.

18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.

20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21 “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22 “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

25 “If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest. 26 If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.

28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

29 “You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Footnotes
Exodus 21:1 ordinances
Exodus 21:8 Lit. is evil in the eyes of
Exodus 21:19 exempt from punishment
Exodus 21:22 struggle
Exodus 21:22 Lit. her children come out
Exodus 21:28 exempt from punishment
Exodus 21:29 was inclined
Exodus 22:3 Sold as a slave
Exodus 22:21 sojourner
Éxodo 21-22
Reina Valera Actualizada
Sobre los esclavos hebreos
21 “Estos son los decretos que expondrás ante ellos:

2 “Cuando compres un esclavo hebreo, seis años te servirá; pero al séptimo saldrá libre, gratuitamente. 3 Si entró solo, solo saldrá. Si tenía mujer, entonces su mujer saldrá con él. 4 Si su amo le ha dado mujer y ella le ha dado hijos o hijas, la mujer y sus hijos serán de su amo; y él saldrá solo. 5 Y si él insiste en decir: ‘Yo amo a mi señor, a mi mujer y a mis hijos; no quiero salir libre’, 6 entonces su amo lo acercará ante los jueces, lo acercará a la puerta o al poste de la puerta y le horadará la oreja con una lezna. Y le servirá para siempre.

7 “Cuando alguien venda a su hija como esclava, esta no saldrá libre de la misma manera que suelen salir los esclavos varones. 8 Si ella no agrada a su señor, quien la había destinado para sí mismo, él ha de permitir que ella sea rescatada. No tendrá derecho de venderla a un pueblo extranjero, por haberla decepcionado. 9 Pero si la ha destinado para su hijo, hará con ella como se acostumbra hacer con las hijas. 10 Si él toma para sí otra mujer, a la primera no le disminuirá su alimento, ni su vestido, ni su derecho conyugal. 11 Si no le provee estas tres cosas, entonces ella saldrá libre gratuitamente, sin pagar dinero.

Ofensas, compensaciones y penas
12 “El que hiere a alguien causándole la muerte morirá irremisiblemente. 13 Pero si él no lo premeditó, sino que Dios permitió que cayera en sus manos, entonces yo te pondré el lugar al cual ha de huir. 14 Pero si alguno actúa con premeditación contra su prójimo y lo mata con alevosía, lo quitarás de mi altar para que muera.

15 “El que hiera a su padre o a su madre morirá irremisiblemente.

16 “El que secuestre a una persona, sea que la venda o que esta sea encontrada en su poder, morirá irremisiblemente.

17 “El que maldiga a su padre o a su madre morirá irremisiblemente.

18 “Cuando algunos hombres peleen y uno hiera al otro con una piedra o con el puño, y este no muera pero caiga en cama; 19 si se levanta y anda fuera apoyado en su bastón, entonces el que lo hirió será absuelto. Solamente lo compensará por el tiempo de inactividad, y se hará cargo de su curación.

20 “Cuando alguien golpee a su esclavo o a su esclava con un palo, y muera en sus manos, sin falta será castigado. 21 Pero si sobrevive uno o dos días, no será castigado, porque es propiedad suya.

22 “Cuando algunos hombres peleen y hieran a una mujer encinta y esta aborte sin mayor daño, el culpable será multado de acuerdo con lo que le imponga el marido de la mujer y según lo que establezcan los jueces. 23 Pero si ocurre un daño mayor, entonces pagará vida por vida, 24 ojo por ojo, diente por diente, mano por mano, pie por pie, 25 quemadura por quemadura, herida por herida, golpe por golpe.

26 “Cuando alguien hiera el ojo de su esclavo o el ojo de su esclava y lo destruya, lo dejará ir libre en compensación por su ojo. 27 Si ocasiona la pérdida de un diente a su esclavo o un diente a su esclava, dejará que se vaya libre en compensación por su diente”.

Muerte causada por animales
28 “Cuando un buey cornee a un hombre o a una mujer, y como consecuencia muera, el buey morirá apedreado, y no se comerá su carne; pero su dueño será absuelto. 29 Si el buey era corneador en el pasado y a su dueño se le había advertido, pero no lo había guardado, y mata a un hombre o a una mujer, el buey morirá apedreado; y también morirá el dueño. 30 Si le es impuesta una multa, entonces dará en rescate de su vida cuanto le sea impuesto. 31 Si ha acorneado a un hijo o a una hija, se hará con él conforme a este mismo decreto. 32 Si el buey cornea a un esclavo o a una esclava, el dueño del buey dará trescientos treinta gramos de plata al dueño del esclavo; y el buey morirá apedreado.

Muerte ocasionada a animales
33 “Cuando alguien deje abierta o cave una cisterna, y no la cubra, y allí caiga un buey o un asno, 34 el dueño de la cisterna pagará a su dueño su valor en dinero; y el animal muerto será suyo.

35 “Cuando el buey de alguien hiera al buey de su prójimo, y muera, entonces venderán el buey vivo y se repartirán el dinero. También se repartirán el buey muerto. 36 Pero si se sabía que el buey era corneador en el pasado y su dueño no lo había guardado, pagará buey por buey; y el buey muerto será suyo.

Leyes acerca de la restitución
22 “Cuando alguien robe un buey o una oveja y lo degüelle o venda, por aquel buey pagará cinco bueyes, y por aquella oveja, pagará cuatro ovejas. 2 Si un ladrón es hallado forzando una casa, y es herido y muere, no hay castigo. 3 Pero si sucede después de salido el sol, sí, hay castigo. Al ladrón le corresponde hacer restitución, y si no tiene con qué, será vendido por lo que ha robado. 4 Si lo robado es hallado vivo en su poder, sea buey, asno u oveja, pagará el doble.

5 “Cuando alguien deje pastar su ganado en un campo o una viña y permita que su ganado pase a otro campo, pagará con lo mejor de su propio campo y con lo mejor de su viña.

6 “Cuando un fuego se extienda y halle espinos, y sean destruidas las gavillas, la mies o un campo, el que prendió el fuego, sin falta pagará el daño del incendio.

7 “Cuando alguien dé a su prójimo plata u objetos para que los guarde, y estos sean robados de la casa del hombre; si es hallado el ladrón, este pagará el doble. 8 Pero si no es hallado el ladrón, entonces al señor de la casa se le hará comparecer ante los jueces para determinar si ha metido la mano en la propiedad de su prójimo.

9 “Sobre todo asunto de posesión ilegal, sea con respecto a buey, asno, oveja, vestido o cualquier propiedad perdida, si uno dice: ‘Esto es mío’, la causa de ambos será llevada ante los jueces. Y aquel a quien los jueces declaren culpable pagará el doble a su prójimo.

10 “Cuando alguien entregue a su prójimo un asno, un buey, una oveja o cualquier otro animal para que lo guarde, y se muera o se lastime, o sea robado sin que nadie lo vea, 11 tendrá lugar entre ambos un juramento ante el SEÑOR, de que no ha metido la mano en la propiedad de su prójimo. El dueño aceptará su testimonio, y el otro no hará restitución. 12 Pero si efectivamente le ha sido robado, él hará restitución a su dueño. 13 Y si el animal fue despedazado, él llevará al dueño evidencia del animal despedazado; y no hará restitución.

14 “Cuando alguien pida prestado un animal a su prójimo y sea lesionado o muerto en ausencia de su dueño, hará completa restitución. 15 Pero si el dueño estuvo presente, no la hará. Si el animal era alquilado, los daños están incluidos en el alquiler.

16 “Cuando alguien seduzca a una mujer virgen no desposada y se acueste con ella, deberá pagar el precio matrimonial por ella y la tomará por mujer. 17 Pero si el padre de ella rehúsa dársela, a pesar de ello él pagará en dinero el precio matrimonial.

Leyes diversas
18 “No dejarás que vivan las brujas.

19 “Cualquiera que tiene cópula con un animal morirá irremisiblemente.

20 “El que ofrece sacrificio a un dios que no sea el SEÑOR, será anatema.

21 “No maltratarás ni oprimirás al extranjero, porque también ustedes fueron extranjeros en la tierra de Egipto.

22 “No afligirás a ninguna viuda ni ningún huérfano. 23 Porque si llegas a afligirlo y él clama a mí, ciertamente oiré su clamor, 24 y mi furor se encenderá, y a ustedes mataré a espada; y sus mujeres quedarán viudas, y sus hijos huérfanos.

25 “Si das prestado dinero a algún pobre de mi pueblo que está contigo, no te portarás con él como usurero ni le impondrás intereses. 26 Si tomas en prenda el manto de tu prójimo, se lo devolverás a la puesta del sol. 27 Porque eso es su única cubierta; eso es su vestido para cubrir su cuerpo. ¿Con qué más ha de dormir? Cuando él clame a mí, yo lo oiré; porque soy misericordioso.

28 “No maldecirás a los jueces ni hablarás mal del gobernante de tu pueblo.

29 “No demorarás en presentar las primicias de tu cosecha ni de tu lagar.

“Me darás el primogénito de tus hijos. 30 Lo mismo harás con el de tus vacas y el de tus ovejas. Siete días estará con su madre, y al octavo día me lo darás.

31 “Me serán hombres santos. No comerán la carne de un animal despedazado en el cam