Exodus 22:16-31

Exodus 22:16-31 NCV

“Suppose a man finds a woman who is not pledged to be married and has never had sexual relations with a man. If he tricks her into having sexual relations with him, he must give her family the payment to marry her, and she will become his wife. But if her father refuses to allow his daughter to marry him, the man must still give the usual payment for a bride who has never had sexual relations. “Put to death any woman who does evil magic. “Put to death anyone who has sexual relations with an animal. “Destroy completely any person who makes a sacrifice to any god except the LORD. “Do not cheat or hurt a foreigner, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. “Do not cheat a widow or an orphan. If you do, and they cry out to me for help, I certainly will hear their cry. And I will be very angry and kill you in war. Then your wives will become widows, and your children will become orphans. “If you lend money to one of my people who is poor, do not treat him as a moneylender would. Charge him nothing for using your money. If your neighbor gives you his coat as a promise for the money he owes you, you must give it back to him by sunset, because it is the only cover to keep his body warm. He has nothing else to sleep in. If he cries out to me for help, I will listen, because I am merciful. “You must not speak against God or curse a leader of your people. “Do not hold back your offering from the first of your harvest and the first wine that you make. Also, you must give me your firstborn sons. You must do the same with your bulls and your sheep. Let the firstborn males stay with their mothers for seven days, and on the eighth day you must give them to me. “You are to be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals. Instead, give it to the dogs.