1 “ When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house,

“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and he does not like her because he finds something bad in her, he will write her a paper of divorce and give it to her and send her away from his house.

2 w hen she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man’s wife,

When she leaves his house, she may go and become another man’s wife.

3 i f the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife,

If the second husband turns against her and gives her a paper of divorce and sends her out of his house, or if the second husband dies who took her for his wife,

4 t hen her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. Miscellaneous Laws

then her first husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her for his wife again, because she has become unclean. It is a hated thing to the Lord and you must not bring sin on the land the Lord your God is giving you.

5 “ When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.

“When a man takes a new wife, he must not go with the army or be given any other work. He should be free to be at home one year to make the wife he has taken happy.

6 “ No man shall take the lower or the upper millstone in pledge, for he takes one’s living in pledge.

“No one should take a man’s stones that he uses to crush grain as a promise to pay what he owes, for he would be taking away a man’s living.

7 “ If a man is found kidnapping any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among you.

“If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the sons of Israel, and makes it hard for him, or sells him, then that robber must die. You must get rid of the sin from among you.

8 “ Take heed in an outbreak of leprosy, that you carefully observe and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, shall teach you; just as I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.

“When there is a very bad skin disease, be careful to do all the Levite religious leaders tell you to do. Be careful to do what I have told them.

9 R emember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way when you came out of Egypt!

Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on your way out of Egypt.

10 “ When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.

“When you let your neighbor use anything of yours, do not go into his house to take what he would give you to make his promise sure.

11 Y ou shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.

Stay outside. The man who is using something of yours will bring the object out to you.

12 A nd if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.

If he is a poor man, do not keep what he gives you through the night.

13 Y ou shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God.

Return his coat to him when the sun goes down so he may sleep in it and be thankful for you. You will be doing what is right before the Lord your God.

14 “ You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates.

“Do not make it hard for a paid servant who is poor and in need, if he is one of your brothers or one of the strangers who is living in one of your towns.

15 E ach day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.

Give him his pay on the day he earns it before the sun goes down. He is poor and he needs it. Then he will not cry to the Lord against you and you would be guilty of sin.

16 “ Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.

“Fathers are not to be put to death for their children. Children are not to be put to death for their fathers. Each man will be put to death for his own sin.

17 “ You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.

“Do what is fair for a stranger or a child whose parents are dead. Do not take the clothing of a woman whose husband has died to make sure she will pay what she owes.

18 B ut you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Remember that you were servants in Egypt, and that the Lord your God set you free. So I am telling you to do this.

19 “ When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

“When you gather the grain in your field and have forgotten some of it, do not return to the field to get it. Leave it for the stranger, the child whose parents have died, and the woman whose husband has died. Then the Lord your God will bring good to you in all the work of your hands.

20 W hen you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

When you beat your olive trees, do not beat the branches a second time. Leave the fruit for the stranger, the child whose parents have died, and the woman whose husband has died.

21 W hen you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

When you gather the grapes from your vines, do not gather a second time. Leave them for the stranger, the child whose parents have died, and the woman whose husband has died.

22 A nd you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Remember that you were servants in the land of Egypt. Because of this, I am telling you to do this.