God laid out some precise laws
      for governing
            relationships
            society

Don't mistreat people
      or God will mistreat you

Do the right thing
      even when your enemy is involved

Provide for the poor
      make sure they get justice

Be kind to strangers
      because you were strangers in Egypt

Work six days
      rest the seventh day
            you
            your family
            servants
            animals
            even the land must rest.

 

                           A SAMPLING OF GOD'S LAWS 
Restitution, truth, kindness, justice, and a restraint on power.
                                       Exodus 22 & 23
   
    1"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters or sells it,
he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies,
there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.  3 If the sun has risen,
there shall be guilt for his bloodshed.
    22"You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.  23 If
you afflict them, and they cry to Me, I will hear their cry.  24And
My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; so
that your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
    25"If you lend money to any of My people who are poor, you
shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge
interest.  26 If you ever take your neighbor's garment as a pledge,
you shall return it before the sun goes down.  27For that is his
only covering.  What will he sleep in?  And it will be that when he
cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
    28"You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
    1"You shall not circulate a false report.  Do not put your hand
with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.  2You shall not
follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as
to turn aside after many to pervert justice.  3You shall not show
partiality to a poor man in his dispute.
    4"If your enemy's ox or donkey goes astray, you shall bring
it back to him again.  5 If you see the donkey of one who hates
you lying under its burden, you shall surely help him with it.
    6"You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute. 
7Keep far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent.  For I will
not justify the wicked.  8You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds
the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous.
    9"You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart
of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
    10"Six years you shall sow your land and gather its produce.
11The seventh year you shall let it lie fallow, that the poor of
your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field
may eat.  In like manner do with your vineyard and olive grove.
    12''Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh
day you shall rest, that your ox and donkey may rest, and the
son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed.
    13"In all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no
mention of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.''
             _{This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV}

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