Exodus 22 is the heart of Israel’s Book of the Covenant - thirty-one laws governing theft, property damage, loans, and the protection of aliens, widows, and the poor. Delivered at Mount Sinai around 1446 BC, the chapter holds the Torah’s most direct promise: when the vulnerable cry out, God himself will hear.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

If a man steals an ox or a sheep And kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox And four sheep for a sheep

If the thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies There shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him If the sun has risen on him, he is guilty of bloodshed He shall make restitution

If the stolen property is found in his hand alive Whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep He shall pay double If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose

And it grazes in another man’s field He shall make restitution from the best of his own field And from the best of his own vineyard If fire breaks out and catches in thorns

So that the shocks of grain or the standing grain or the field are consumed He who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution If a man delivers to his neighbour money or stuff to keep And it is stolen out of the man’s house

If the thief is found, he shall pay double If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God To find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbour’s goods For every matter of trespass, the cause shall come before God

He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbour You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him For you were aliens in the land of Egypt You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child

If you take advantage of them at all And they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry And my wrath will grow hot And I will kill you with the sword

And your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor You shall not be to him as a creditor You shall not charge him interest

You shall not blaspheme God nor curse a ruler of your people You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me You shall be holy men to me

These are the statutes of God’s compassion For the vulnerable and the poor That the people may know the heart of the LORD

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Exodus 22 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press