The Daily Audio Bible
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22 “If men fight with each other and hit a woman who is going to have a child so that she loses her baby but no other hurt comes to her, he must pay whatever the woman’s husband says he must, as agreed upon by the judges. 23 But if there is other hurt also, then it is life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, cut for cut, sore for sore.
26 “If a man hits the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it, he will let the person go free because of the eye. 27 If he knocks out a tooth of his man or woman servant, he will let the person go free because of the tooth.
Laws about Owning Animals
28 “When a bull kills a man or a woman with its horns, the bull will be killed with stones. And its flesh will not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be punished. 29 But if a bull has tried to kill with its horns before, and the owner has been told but does not keep him shut up, and the bull kills a man or a woman, the bull will be killed with stones and the owner will be put to death. 30 But if he is allowed to pay for his life, then he will pay whatever is asked of him. 31 If the bull kills a son or a daughter, it will be punished by the same law. 32 If the bull kills a male or female servant, the bull’s owner will give the servant’s owner thirty pieces of silver. And the bull will be killed with stones.
33 “When a man leaves a deep hole open, or digs a deep hole and does not cover it, and a bull or donkey falls into it, 34 the owner of the hole will pay for the loss. He will give money to the animal’s owner. And the dead animal will become his.
35 “If one man’s bull hurts another’s so that it dies, they will sell the live bull and divide the price so they will each have the same. And they will divide the dead bull. 36 Or if it is known that the bull has tried to kill with its horns in the past, but its owner has not kept it shut up, he will pay bull for bull. And the dead animal will become his.
Laws about Paying Back What Is Owed
22 “If a man steals a bull or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he will pay five bulls for the bull and four sheep for the sheep. 2 If the robber is caught while breaking in, and is hit so that he dies, the owner of the house is not guilty for his blood. 3 But if the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for his blood. The robber must pay for the loss. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for stealing. 4 If the stolen bull or donkey or sheep is found alive with him, he must pay twice what it is worth. 5 If a man lets his cattle eat from a field or grape-field and lets his cattle loose to eat in another man’s field, he will pay for the loss from the best of his own field or grape-field.
6 “When a fire starts and spreads to thorn bushes so as to burn up picked grain or standing grain or the field itself, he who started the fire will pay for the loss.
7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or things to keep for him, and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the robber is caught he will pay twice as much as the loss. 8 If the robber is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought to the judges. They will see if he stole what belongs to his neighbor. 9 For every wrong act, if it is for bull, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any lost thing about which someone says, ‘This is mine,’ the stories of both men will come in front of the judges. Whoever the judges say is guilty will pay his neighbor twice as much as the loss.
10 “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, bull, sheep or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 the two men will make a promise before the Lord that he has not taken what belongs to his neighbor. The owner will take his word for it. And he will not make him pay for the loss. 12 But if it is stolen from him, he will pay the owner for the loss. 13 If the animal is torn to pieces, let him bring it to prove what happened. He will not pay for what has been torn to pieces.
14 “If a man asks to use anything that belongs to his neighbor, and it gets hurt or dies while its owner is not with it, the man who was using it will pay for the loss. 15 If its owner is with it, the man who was using it will not pay for the loss. If he paid money to use it, then the loss is paid for.
Laws about Right Living
16 “If a man tempts a woman who has never had a man and is not promised in marriage, and lies with her, he must pay a wedding gift for her to be his wife. 17 If her father will not give her to him, he will pay the wedding gift that is to be paid for women who have never had a man.
18 “Do not allow a woman to live who does witchcraft. 19 Whoever does sex sins with an animal will be put to death.
20 “He who gives a gift in worship to any god other than the Lord alone will be destroyed. 21 Do not do wrong to a stranger or make it hard for him. For you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 Do not bring trouble to any woman whose husband has died or any child whose parents have died. 23 If you bring them trouble, and they cry out to Me, for sure I will hear their cry. 24 My anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will lose their husbands. And your children will lose their fathers.
25 “If you let any of the poor among My people use your money, do not act toward him like one who is owed money. And do not make him pay you for the use of it. 26 If you ever take your neighbor’s coat to keep while he owes you money, return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering. It is his clothing for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to Me, I will hear him. For I have loving-pity.
28 “Do not curse God, or a ruler of your people. 29 Do not wait before giving Me a gift from your gathered grain and the fruit of your fields. You will give to Me the first-born of your sons. 30 You will do the same with your cattle and your sheep. The first-born will be with its mother seven days. On the eighth day you will give it to Me. 31 You will be holy men to Me. So you will not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field. You will throw it to the dogs.
Different Laws
23 “Do not tell a lie about someone else. Do not join with the sinful to say something that will hurt someone. 2 Do not follow many people in doing wrong. When telling what you know in a trial, do not agree with many people by saying what is not true. 3 And do not show favor to a poor man when he has a problem.
4 “If you meet a bull or donkey that belongs to a man who hates you, be sure to return the animal to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you falling under its load, do not leave the problem to him. Help him to free the animal. 6 Do not keep from doing what is right and fair in trying to help a poor brother when he has a problem. 7 Do not lie against someone. And do not kill those who are right and good or those who are not guilty. For I will not free the guilty. 8 Do not take pay in secret for wrong-doing. For such pay blinds the one who sees well and destroys the words of a good man. 9 Do not make it hard for a stranger because you know how a stranger feels. You were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Seventh Year and Seventh Day
10 “You will plant seeds in your land for six years, and gather the grain. 11 But in the seventh year you will let the land rest without planting. So your people who are in need may eat. Whatever they leave, the animals may eat. You are to do the same with your grape-fields and olive trees. 12 You will work six days and rest on the seventh day. So your bull and your donkey may rest. And the son of your female servant, and the stranger, may get their strength again. 13 Be careful to do all I have said to you. Never speak the name of other gods. Do not let them be heard from your mouth.
Jesus Tells of the House of God (A)
24 Jesus went out of the house of God. On the way His followers came to Him to show Him the buildings of the house of God. 2 Jesus said to them, “Do you see all these things? For sure, I tell you, all these stones will be thrown down. Not one will be left standing on another.”
Jesus Teaches on the Mount of Olives
3 Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to Him when He was alone and said, “Tell us, when will this happen? What can we look for to show us of Your coming and of the end of the world?”
4 Jesus said to them, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way. 5 Many people will come using My name. They will say, ‘I am Christ.’ They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. 6 You will hear of wars and lots of talk about wars, but do not be afraid. These things must happen, but it is not the end yet. 7 Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. There will be no food for people. The earth will shake and break apart in different places. 8 These things are the beginning of sorrows and pains.
9 “Then they will hand you over to be hurt. They will kill you. You will be hated by all the world because of My name. 10 Many people will give up and turn away at this time. People will hand over each other. They will hate each other. 11 Many false religious teachers will come. They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. 12 Because of people breaking the laws and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many people will become cold. 13 But the one who stays true to the end will be saved.
14 “This Good News about the holy nation of God must be preached over all the earth. It must be told to all nations and then the end will come.
Days of Trouble and Pain and Sorrow
15 “You will see a sinful man-made god standing in the house of God in Jerusalem. It was spoken of by the early preacher Daniel. (B) The one who reads this should understand it. 16 Then those in the country of Judea should run to the mountains. 17 The man who is on the top of his house should not come down to take anything out of his house. 18 The man who is in the field should not go back to get his coat. 19 It will be hard for a woman who will soon be a mother. It will be hard for the ones feeding babies in those days! 20 Pray that you will not have to go in the winter or on the Day of Rest. 21 In those days there will be very much trouble and pain and sorrow. It has never been this bad from the beginning of the world and never will be again. 22 If the time had not been made short, no life would have been saved. Because of God’s people, the time will be made short.
The False Religious Teachers
23 “If anyone says to you, ‘See! Here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24 People who say they are Christ and false preachers will come. They will do special things for people to see. They will do great things, so that if it can be done, God’s people will be fooled to believe something wrong. 25 Listen! I have told you before it comes. 26 If they tell you, ‘See! He is in the desert,’ do not go to see. Or if they say, ‘See! He is in the inside room,’ do not believe them. 27 The Son of Man will come as fast as lightning shines across the sky from east to west. 28 Birds gather wherever there is a dead body.
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm
29 Give to the Lord, O sons of the powerful. Give to the Lord shining-greatness and strength. 2 Give to the Lord the honor that belongs to Him. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holy living.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. The God of shining-greatness thunders. The Lord is over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is great. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the tall cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon jump like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild bull. 7 The voice of the Lord sends out lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. The Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and tears away the leaves of the trees. And in His holy house everything says, “Honor to God!”
10 The Lord sat as King over the flood. The Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will give His people peace.
6 For I looked out through the wood-work at the window of my house. 7 And I saw among the child-like and among the young people a young man without wisdom and understanding. 8 He passed through the street near her corner and took the path to her house, 9 in the light of the evening, after it was dark. 10 See, a woman comes to meet him. She is dressed like a woman who sells the use of her body, and with a heart that wants to fool and trap someone. 11 She is loud and has a strong self-will. Her feet do not stay at home. 12 She is now in the street, now in the center of town where people gather. She lies in wait at every corner. 13 So she catches him and kisses him. With a hard face she says to him, 14 “It was time for me to give gifts on the altar in worship, and today I have paid what I promised. 15 So I have come out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my bed with coverings of linen cloth from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning. Let us make ourselves happy with love. 19 For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long trip. 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and he will come home at full moon.”
21 She leads him away with her tempting talk. She tempts him with the smooth words of her lips. 22 All at once he follows her, like a bull going to be killed, like a wild animal goes into a trap, 23 until an arrow cuts through him. Like a bird that hurries into the net, he does not know that he will lose his life.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.