An Eye for an Eye

^[12] “Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. ^[13] However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate. ^[14] But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death. ^[15] “Anyone who attacks his father or his mother must be put to death. ^[16] “Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death. ^[17] “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. ^[18] “If men quarrel and one hits the other with a stone or with his fist and he does not die but is confined to bed, ^[19] the one who struck the blow will not be held responsible if the other gets up and walks around outside with his staff; however, he must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and see that he is completely healed. ^[20] “If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, ^[21] but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property. ^[22] “If men who are fighting 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. ^[23] But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, ^[24] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ^[25] burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. ^[26] “If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. ^[27] And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth. ^[28] “If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. ^[29] If, 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 must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death. ^[30] However, if payment is demanded of him, he may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded. ^[31] This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. ^[32] If 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 must be stoned. ^[33] “If a man uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, ^[34] the owner of the pit must pay for the loss; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his. ^[35] “If a man’s bull injures the bull of another and it dies, they are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. ^[36] However, 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 the dead animal will be his.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.