New Century Version

Exodus 21:20-32 New Century Version (NCV)

20. “If a man beats his male or female slave with a stick, and the slave dies on the spot, the owner must be punished.

21. But if the slave gets well after a day or two, the owner will not be punished since the slave belongs to him.

22. “Suppose two men are fighting and hit a pregnant woman, causing the baby to come out. If there is no further injury, the man who caused the accident must pay money—whatever amount the woman’s husband says and the court allows.

23. But if there is further injury, then the punishment that must be paid is life for life,

24. eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25. burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.

26. “If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye, and the eye is blinded, the man is to free the slave to pay for the eye.

27. If a master knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, the man is to free the slave to pay for the tooth.

28. “If a man’s bull kills a man or woman, you must kill that bull by throwing stones at it, and you should not eat the bull. But the owner of the bull is not guilty.

29. However, suppose the bull has hurt people in the past and the owner, though warned, did not keep it in a pen. Then if it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned to death, and the owner must also be put to death.

30. But if the family of the dead person accepts money, the one who owned the bull may buy back his life, but he must pay whatever is demanded.

31. Use this same law if the bull kills a person’s son or daughter.

32. If the bull kills a male or female slave, the owner must pay the master the price for a new slave, or twelve ounces of silver, and the bull must also be stoned to death.