19
“You must obey all my decrees.
“Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread.
20 “If a man has sex with a slave girl whose freedom has never been purchased but who is committed to become another man’s wife, he must pay full compensation to her master. But since she is not a free woman, neither the man nor the woman will be put to death. 21 The man, however, must bring a ram as a guilt offering and present it to the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 1 22 The priest will then purify him 2 before the Lord with the ram of the guilt offering, and the man’s sin will be forgiven.
23 “When you enter the land and plant fruit trees, leave the fruit unharvested for the first three years and consider it forbidden. 3 Do not eat it. 24 In the fourth year the entire crop must be consecrated to the Lord as a celebration of praise. 25 Finally, in the fifth year you may eat the fruit. If you follow this pattern, your harvest will increase. I am the Lord your God.
26
“Do not eat meat that has not been drained of its blood.
“Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft.
27
“Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards.
28
“Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord .
29
“Do not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be filled with prostitution and wickedness.
30
“Keep my Sabbath days of rest, and show reverence toward my sanctuary. I am the Lord .
31
“Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the Lord your God.
32
“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord .
33 “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. 34 Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.
35
“Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or volume.
36
Your scales and weights must be accurate. Your containers for measuring dry materials or liquids must be accurate. 4 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37
“You must be careful to keep all of my decrees and regulations by putting them into practice. I am the Lord .”