Exodus 22 (MSG)

31 verses · The Message · Contemporary paraphrase

The Message by Eugene Peterson presents the Bible in the rhythms and idioms of contemporary American English. More than a translation, it is a paraphrase designed to help readers experience Scripture's impact as if hearing it for the first time.

Exodus Chapter 22 contains 31 verses and is presented here in the The Message (MSG), which uses a contemporary paraphrase approach. Read the full text below, compare with other translations, or navigate to any of the 40 chapters in Exodus.

NIVKJVESVNLTNASB
Chapter 21Chapter 23

1"If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb.

2If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt.

3But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt. "A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving.

4If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double.

5"If someone grazes livestock in a field or vineyard but lets them loose so they graze in someone else's field, restitution must be made from the best of the owner's field or vineyard.

6"If fire breaks out and spreads to the brush so that the sheaves of grain or the standing grain or even the whole field is burned up, whoever started the fire must pay for the damages.

7"If someone gives a neighbor money or things for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.

8If the thief is not caught, the owner must be brought before God to determine whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor's goods.

9"In all cases of stolen goods, whether oxen, donkeys, sheep, clothing, anything in fact missing of which someone says, 'That's mine,' both parties must come before the judges. The one the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to the other.

10"If someone gives a donkey or ox or lamb or any kind of animal to another for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or lost and there is no witness,

11an oath before God must be made between them to decide whether one has laid hands on the property of the other. The owner must accept this and no damages are assessed.

12But if it turns out it was stolen, the owner must be compensated.

13If it has been torn by wild beasts, the torn animal must be brought in as evidence; no damages have to be paid.

14"If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it gets injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must pay for it.

15But if the owner was with it, he doesn't have to pay. If the animal was hired, the payment covers the loss.

16"If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the marriage price and marry her.

17If her father absolutely refuses to give her away, the man must still pay the marriage price for virgins.

18"Don't let a sorceress live.

19"Anyone who has sex with an animal gets the death penalty.

20"Anyone who sacrifices to a god other than God alone must be put to death.

21"Don't abuse or take advantage of strangers; you, remember, were once strangers in Egypt.

22"Don't mistreat widows or orphans.

23If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I'll take them most seriously;

24I'll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans.

25"If you lend money to my people, to any of the down-and-out among you, don't come down hard on them and gouge them with interest.

26"If you take your neighbor's coat as security, give it back before nightfall;

27it may be your neighbor's only covering—what else does the person have to sleep in? And if I hear the neighbor crying out from the cold, I'll step in—I'm compassionate.

28"Don't curse God; and don't damn your leaders.

29"Don't be stingy as your wine vats fill up. "Dedicate your firstborn sons to me.

30The same with your cattle and sheep—they are to stay for seven days with their mother, then give them to me.

31"Be holy for my sake. "Don't eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs.

Chapter 21Read in NIVChapter 23

About This Translation

What is Exodus 22 in the MSG?

Exodus 22 in the The Message (MSG) contains 31 verses. The MSG uses a contemporary paraphrase approach, first published in 2002.

How does the MSG translate Exodus 22 differently?

The The Message uses contemporary paraphrase, rendering the text as a modern paraphrase in contemporary idioms. Compare this with the NIV (dynamic equivalence) version of Exodus 22 for a different perspective.

How many verses are in Exodus 22 (MSG)?

Exodus Chapter 22 contains 31 verses in the The Message. The book of Exodus has 40 chapters total.

Exodus (MSG) — All 40 Chapters