כִּֽי־יִקַּ֥ח אִ֛ישׁ אִשָּׁ֖ה וּבְעָלָ֑הּ וְהָיָ֞ה אִם־לֹ֧א תִמְצָא־חֵ֣ן בְּעֵינָ֗יו כִּי־מָ֤צָא בָהּ֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת דָּבָ֔ר וְכָ֨תַב לָ֜הּ סֵ֤פֶר כְּרִיתֻת֙ וְנָתַ֣ן בְּיָדָ֔הּ וְשִׁלְּחָ֖הּ מִבֵּיתֽוֹ׃

When a man takes, betroths, a wife and engages in intercourse with her, it shall be that if she does not find favor in his eyes, because he found in her an indecent matter, either a trait that he deems deficient, or immoral sexual behavior, albeit that which is insufficiently corrupt for him to be obligated to divorce her, but he decided to do so anyway, and he wrote

וְיָצְאָ֖ה מִבֵּית֑וֹ וְהָלְכָ֖ה וְהָיְתָ֥ה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵֽר׃

and she departed from his house, and she went and was married to another man,

וּשְׂנֵאָהּ֮ הָאִ֣ישׁ הָאַחֲרוֹן֒ וְכָ֨תַב לָ֜הּ סֵ֤פֶר כְּרִיתֻת֙ וְנָתַ֣ן בְּיָדָ֔הּ וְשִׁלְּחָ֖הּ מִבֵּית֑וֹ א֣וֹ כִ֤י יָמוּת֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הָאַחֲר֔וֹן אֲשֶׁר־לְקָחָ֥הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

and the latter man also hated her, and he wrote her a bill of divorce and placed it in her hand, and sent her from his house, or alternatively, if the latter man, who took her as his wife, died,

לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל בַּעְלָ֣הּ הָרִאשׁ֣וֹן אֲשֶֽׁר־שִׁ֠לְּחָהּ לָשׁ֨וּב לְקַחְתָּ֜הּ לִהְי֧וֹת ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֗ה אַחֲרֵי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֻטַּמָּ֔אָה כִּֽי־תוֹעֵבָ֥ה הִ֖וא לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹ֤א תַחֲטִיא֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָֽה׃ (ס)

her former husband, who sent her, may not take her again to be a wife for him, even though she is permitted to marry anyone else, besides a priest, after she was defiled, forbidden to other men upon marriage to her second husband. Although the divorce from, or death of, her second husband renders her permitted again to marry other men, she remains forbidden to her first husband forever, as it, remarrying her first husband, is an abomination before the Lord, as it may facilitate sexual licentiousness and exchange of wives under the ruse of legal marriage. And you shall not bring sin to the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

כִּֽי־יִקַּ֥ח אִישׁ֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה חֲדָשָׁ֔ה לֹ֤א יֵצֵא֙ בַּצָּבָ֔א וְלֹא־יַעֲבֹ֥ר עָלָ֖יו לְכָל־דָּבָ֑ר נָקִ֞י יִהְיֶ֤ה לְבֵיתוֹ֙ שָׁנָ֣ה אֶחָ֔ת וְשִׂמַּ֖ח אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־לָקָֽח׃ (ס)

When a man takes a new wife, a woman for whom it is her first marriage, or alternatively, a woman whom he is marrying for the first time, he shall not go out to serve in the army. And not only may he not participate in a life-threatening activity, but for no matter shall he be obligated at all. He may not join the army even in a supporting position, engaging in the duties performed by soldiers who are not fit for combat or who are exempt for reasons stated above. He shall be free for his house, his wife, for one year, exempt from all responsibilities toward the state, and shall cause his wife, whom he took, to rejoice.

לֹא־יַחֲבֹ֥ל רֵחַ֖יִם וָרָ֑כֶב כִּי־נֶ֖פֶשׁ ה֥וּא חֹבֵֽל׃ (ס)

One, a creditor, shall not take the lower millstone [ rehayim ] or the upper millstone [ rekhev ] as collateral. A flour mill consists of two stones. The lower one [ reḥayim ] is the primary part of the mill, and therefore, the mill as a whole is also referred to by the same term. Some interpret the word reḥayim as referring to both stones, and explain that one may not take both stones as collateral, or even the upper stone [ rekhev ] alone, which is mobile and can be taken easily, as by taking the means of preparing bread, he takes a life as collateral.

כִּי־יִמָּצֵ֣א אִ֗ישׁ גֹּנֵ֨ב נֶ֤פֶשׁ מֵאֶחָיו֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהִתְעַמֶּר־בּ֖וֹ וּמְכָר֑וֹ וּמֵת֙ הַגַּנָּ֣ב הַה֔וּא וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃

If a man is found abducting any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and he enslaved [ hitamer ] or abused him and then sold him to another, that thief shall die, you shall execute him, and you shall eliminate the evil from your midst.

הִשָּׁ֧מֶר בְּנֶֽגַע־הַצָּרַ֛עַת לִשְׁמֹ֥ר מְאֹ֖ד וְלַעֲשׂ֑וֹת כְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁר־יוֹר֨וּ אֶתְכֶ֜ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֧ים הַלְוִיִּ֛ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתִ֖ם תִּשְׁמְר֥וּ לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ (ס)

Be careful with the mark of leprosy, to greatly take care of all of its laws and to act in accordance with everything that the priests, the Levites, will instruct you; as I had commanded them in detail, you shall take care to perform. The priests were commanded with regard to the details, and you must obey their instructions.

זָכ֕וֹר אֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לְמִרְיָ֑ם בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶ֥ם מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ (ס)

An addition to this warning is now presented: Remember that which the Lord your God did to Miriam the prophetess, Moses’ sister, on the way upon your exodus from Egypt. Miriam was afflicted with leprosy and spent seven days in isolation. Although the people honored her by remaining in place until she healed, her status did not save her from leprosy and isolation.

כִּֽי־תַשֶּׁ֥ה בְרֵֽעֲךָ מַשַּׁ֣את מְא֑וּמָה לֹא־תָבֹ֥א אֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ לַעֲבֹ֥ט עֲבֹטֽוֹ׃

When you lend your neighbor a loan of any amount, and he is required to repay it, and you wish to collect the debt, you shall not go into his house to take his collateral.

בַּח֖וּץ תַּעֲמֹ֑ד וְהָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ נֹשֶׁ֣ה ב֔וֹ יוֹצִ֥יא אֵלֶ֛יךָ אֶֽת־הַעֲב֖וֹט הַחֽוּצָה׃

Outside you shall stand, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the collateral to you outside. You are allowed to demand collateral worth the money you are owed, but you must be sensitive to the dignity of the borrower. You may not invade his house and choose one of his belongings as collateral, as that would humiliate him.

וְאִם־אִ֥ישׁ עָנִ֖י ה֑וּא לֹ֥א תִשְׁכַּ֖ב בַּעֲבֹטֽוֹ׃

If he, the borrower, is a poor man, who can give you only a

הָשֵׁב֩ תָּשִׁ֨יב ל֤וֹ אֶֽת־הַעֲבוֹט֙ כְּבֹ֣א הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ וְשָׁכַ֥ב בְּשַׂלְמָת֖וֹ וּבֵֽרֲכֶ֑ךָּ וּלְךָ֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה צְדָקָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (ס)

Instead, you shall return him the collateral with the setting of the sun and he will sleep in his garment, and he will bless you for giving it back to him, as he now has a garment in which to sleep. And besides the blessing of the poor person, for you it will be considered righteousness before the Lord your God.

לֹא־תַעֲשֹׁ֥ק שָׂכִ֖יר עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן מֵאַחֶ֕יךָ א֧וֹ מִגֵּרְךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאַרְצְךָ֖ בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃

You shall not exploit a poor or indigent hired laborer from your brethren, your people. It is prohibited to exploit any hired laborer, but the Torah refers to a reality in which most hired laborers were poor. The average person would work the land he inherited from his father, and the hired laborers were those who did not have land, or who did not have the means to work their field. Or a hired laborer from your stranger who is in your land within your gates, as he too does not have land of his own. A hired laborer is dependent on his employer. The Torah therefore attempts to prevent employers from exploiting their laborers.

בְּיוֹמוֹ֩ תִתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָר֜וֹ וְֽלֹא־תָב֧וֹא עָלָ֣יו הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ כִּ֤י עָנִי֙ ה֔וּא וְאֵלָ֕יו ה֥וּא נֹשֵׂ֖א אֶת־נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יִקְרָ֤א עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה בְךָ֖ חֵֽטְא׃ (ס)

Furthermore, on his day, until the end of his workday, you shall give his wage, and the sun shall not set upon it. He must receive his wage before sunset, as he is poor, and he anticipates it; if his daily wage is his only money, he will need it to buy food. Lest he cry out against you to the Lord if you do not pay him on that same day. Even if you intend to pay him another time, and even if your failure to pay him is unintentional, he is liable to pray against you for causing him misery, and it will be a sin in you.

לֹֽא־יוּמְת֤וּ אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים וּבָנִ֖ים לֹא־יוּמְת֣וּ עַל־אָב֑וֹת אִ֥יש בְּחֶטְא֖וֹ יוּמָֽתוּ׃ (ס)

Fathers shall not be put to death for the sins of sons, and sons shall not be put to death for the sins of fathers. People should not be punished for the sins of their family members; each man shall be put to death only for his own sin.

לֹ֣א תַטֶּ֔ה מִשְׁפַּ֖ט גֵּ֣ר יָת֑וֹם וְלֹ֣א תַחֲבֹ֔ל בֶּ֖גֶד אַלְמָנָֽה׃

You shall not distort the judgment of a stranger or an orphan, who are defenseless and vulnerable. Besides the general obligation of justice, the Torah demands of a judge special care in deciding the case of a weak litigant. And likewise, you shall not take a widow’s garment as collateral, as opposed to other people, from whom it is stated above (verses 12–13) that taking collateral is permitted.

וְזָכַרְתָּ֗ כִּ֣י עֶ֤בֶד הָיִ֙יתָ֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וַֽיִּפְדְּךָ֛ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ מִשָּׁ֑ם עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ (ס)

You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and

כִּ֣י תִקְצֹר֩ קְצִֽירְךָ֨ בְשָׂדֶ֜ךָ וְשָֽׁכַחְתָּ֧ עֹ֣מֶר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה לֹ֤א תָשׁוּב֙ לְקַחְתּ֔וֹ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֑ה לְמַ֤עַן יְבָרֶכְךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדֶֽיךָ׃

The next three laws apply outside one’s home, in the field, the orchard, and the vineyard, and also require that one refrain from exercising his full legal and property rights when dealing with the poor. When you reap your harvest in your field, and you forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not return to take it; for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow it shall be. Harvesters would tie together sheaves and leave them in the field for collection at the end of the day. If a sheaf was forgotten, you may not return later to take it. Once it is forgotten, leave it for the needy, so that the Lord your God will bless you in all your endeavors. This commandment is performed unintentionally, as you did not intend to leave the sheaf in the field, and your forgetfulness may have been caused by Heaven. However, if you are not eager to retrieve that which you lost, but instead leave your forgotten sheaf for the disadvantaged, you will be blessed, as a blessing is found only in an object that is hidden from the eye. If you are not particular about what you deserve, Heaven will treat you generously as well.

כִּ֤י תַחְבֹּט֙ זֵֽיתְךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְפָאֵ֖ר אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶֽה׃ (ס)

A similar law is presented: When you beat your olive tree to knock down the olives, you shall not search the boughs again to find any remaining olives that did not fall but are caught in the leaves or branches, or that are not yet ripe; for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow it shall be. Here, too, you are required to relinquish the small remnants of which you have legal ownership to the needy.

כִּ֤י תִבְצֹר֙ כַּרְמְךָ֔ לֹ֥א תְעוֹלֵ֖ל אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ לַגֵּ֛ר לַיָּת֥וֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָ֖ה יִהְיֶֽה׃

Likewise, when you harvest your vineyard, you shall not glean the small, individual grapes that did not form into clusters behind you after harvesting the complete clusters; rather, for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow it shall be.

וְזָ֣כַרְתָּ֔ כִּי־עֶ֥בֶד הָיִ֖יתָ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם עַל־כֵּ֞ן אָנֹכִ֤י מְצַוְּךָ֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ (ס)

The Torah once again stresses: You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You understand the desperation of one who is impoverished, and how finding objects of this kind can bring him joy. Therefore I command you to perform this matter. After everything you experienced, you are better able to understand and fulfill this commandment.