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Social Responsibility
"If a man seduces a girl who is not engaged to anyone, and sleeps with her, he must pay the usual dowry and accept her as his wife. But if her father utterly refuses to let her marry him, then he shall pay the money anyway.
"A sorceress shall be put to death.
"Anyone having sexual relations with an animal shall certainly be executed.
"Anyone sacrificing to any other god than Jehovah shall be executed.
"You must not oppress a stranger in any way; remember, you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
"You must not exploit widows or orphans; if you do so in any way, and they cry to me for my help, I will surely give it. And my anger shall flame out against you, and I will kill you with enemy armies, so that your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.
"If you lend money to a needy fellow-Hebrew, you are not to handle the transaction in an ordinary way, with interest. If you take his clothing as a pledge of his repayment, you must let him have it back at night. For it is probably his only warmth; how can he sleep without it? If you don't return it, and he cries to me for help, I will hear and be very gracious to him [at your expense], for I am very compassionate.
"You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse government officials--your judges and your rulers.
"You must be prompt in giving me the tithe of your crops and your wine, and the redemption payment for your oldest son.
"As to the firstborn of the oxen and the sheep, give it to me on the eighth day, after leaving it with its mother for seven days.
"And since you yourselves are holy--my special people--do not eat any animal that has been attacked and killed by a wild animal. Leave its carcass for the dogs to eat."
TEXT SOURCE:
(Exodus 22:16-31) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187
TITLE SOURCE: The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan
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