按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
those that are young； let it suffice thee to have given so many
indications Of thy contempt of us； reform thyself； and act more
wisely for the time to come； considering that God is displeased
with those that are insolent towards their parents； because he is
himself the Father of the whole race of mankind； and seems to
bear part of that dishonor which falls upon those that have the
same name； when they do not meet with dire returns from their
children。 And on such the law inflicts inexorable punishment； of
which punishment mayst thou never have the experience。〃 Now if
the insolence of young men be thus cured； let them escape the
reproach which their former errors deserved； for by this means
the lawgiver will appear to be good； and parents happy； while
they never behold either a son or a daughter brought to
punishment。 But if it happen that these words and instructions；
conveyed by them in order to reclaim the man； appear to be
useless； then the offender renders the laws implacable enemies to
the insolence he has offered his parents； let him therefore be
brought forth （27） by these very parents out of the city； with a
multitude following him； and there let him be stoned； and when he
has continued there for one whole day； that all the people may
see him； let him be buried in the night。 And thus it is that we
bury all whom the laws condemn to die； upon any account
whatsoever。 Let our enemies that fall in battle be also buried；
nor let any one dead body lie above the ground； or suffer a
punishment beyond what justice requires。
25。 Let no one lend to any one of the Hebrews upon usury； neither
usury of what is eaten or what is drunken； for it is not just to
make advantage of the misfortunes of one of thy own countrymen；
but when thou hast been assistant to his necessities； think it
thy gain if thou obtainest their gratitude to thee； and withal
that reward which will come to thee from God； for thy humanity
towards him。
26。 Those who have borrowed either silver or any sort of fruits；
whether dry or wet； （I mean this； when the Jewish affairs shall；
by the blessing of God； be to their own mind；） let the borrowers
bring them again； and restore them with pleasure to those who
lent them； laying them up； as it were； in their own treasuries；
and justly expecting to receive them thence； if they shall want
them again。 But if they be without shame； and do not restore it；
let not the lender go to the borrower's house； and take a pledge
himself； before judgment be given concerning it； but let him
require the pledge； and let the debtor bring it of himself；
without the least opposition to him that comes upon him under the
protection of the law。 And if he that gave the pledge be rich；
let the creditor retain it till what he lent be paid him again；
but if he be poor； let him that takes it return it before the
going down of the sun； especially if the pledge be a garment；
that the debtor may have it for a covering in his sleep； God
himself naturally showing mercy to the poor。 It is also not
lawful to take a millstone； nor any utensil thereto belonging；
for a pledge； that the debtor； may not be deprived of instruments
to get their food withal； and lest they be undone by their
necessity。
27。 Let death be the punishment for stealing a man； but he that
hath purloined gold or silver； let him pay double。 If any one
kill a man that is stealing something out of his house； let him
be esteemed guiltless； although the man were only breaking in at
the wall。 Let him that hath stolen cattle pay fourfold what is
lost； excepting the case of an ox； for which let the thief pay
fivefold。 Let him that is so poor that he cannot pay what mulet
is laid upon him； be his servant to whom he was adjudged to pay
it。
28。 If any one be sold to one of his own nation； let him serve
him six years； and on the seventh let him go free。 But if he have
a son by a woman servant in his purchaser's house； and if； on
account of his good…will to his master； and his natural affection
to his wife and children； he will be his servant still； let him
be set free only at the coming of the year of jubilee； which is
the fiftieth year； and let him then take away with him his
children and wife； and let them be free also。
29。 If any one find gold or silver on the road； let him inquire
after him that lost it； and make proclamation of the place where
he found it； and then restore it to him again； as not thinking it
right to make his own profit by the loss of another。 And the same
rule is to be observed in cattle found to have wandered away into
a lonely place。 If the owner be not presently discovered； let him
that is the finder keep it with himself； and appeal to God that
he has not purloined what belongs to another。
30。 It is not lawful to pass by any beast that is in distress；
when in a storm it is fallen down in the mire； but to endeavor to
preserve it； as having a sympathy with it in its pain。
31。 It is also a duty to show the roads to those who do not know
them； and not to esteem it a matter for sport； when we hinder
others' advantages； by setting them in a wrong way。
32。 In like manner； let no one revile a person blind or dumb。
33。 If men strive together； and there be no instrument of iron；
let him that is smitten be avenged immediately； by inflicting the
same punishment on him that smote him： but if when he is carried
home he lie sick many days； and then die； let him that smote him
not escape punishment； but if he that is smitten escape death；
and yet be at great expense for his cure； the smiter shall pay
for all that has been expended during the time of his sickness；
and for all that he has paid the physician。 He that kicks a woman
with child； so that the woman miscarry； （28） let him pay a fine
in money； as the judges shall determine； as having diminished the
multitude by the destruction of what was in her womb； and let
money also be given the woman's husband by him that kicked her；
but if she die of the stroke； let him also be put to death； the
law judging it equitable that life should go for life。
34。 Let no one of the Israelites keep any poison （29） that may
cause death； or any other harm； but if he be caught with it； let
him be put to death； and suffer the very same mischief that he
would have brought upon them for whom the poison was prepared。
35。 He that maimeth any one； let him undergo the like himself；
and be deprived of the same member of which he hath deprived the
other； unless he that is maimed will accept of money instead of
it （30） for the law makes the sufferer the judge of the value of
what he hath suffered； and permits him to estimate it； unless he
will be more severe。
36。 Let him that is the owner of an ox which pusheth with his
horn； kill him： but if he pushes and gores any one in the
thrashing…floor； let him be put to death by stoning； and let him
not be thought fit for food： but if his owner be convicted as
having known what his nature was； and hath not kept him up； let
him also be put to death； as being the occasion of the ox's
having killed a man。 But if the ox have killed a man…servant； or
a maid…servant； let him be stoned； and let the owner of