Deuteronomy 24

Divorce and Remarriage

1“If a man takes a woman and marries her, and it happens that she does not find favor in his eyes because he finds in her some indecent matter, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her from his house, 2and she goes out from his house and becomes the wife of another man, 3and the latter husband hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her from his house, or if the latter husband who took her as wife dies, 4then her first husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled, for that is detestable before the LORD. You shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

A Newly Married Man

5“When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army or have any public duty imposed upon him. He shall be free at home one year and bring joy to the wife whom he has taken.

Protect the Means of Life

6“No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone as a pledge, for that would be taking a life as a pledge.

Kidnapping Is a Capital Offense

7“If a man is found kidnapping one of his brothers from the children of Israel, treating him as merchandise or selling him, then that kidnapper shall die. So you shall remove the evil from your midst.

Be Careful concerning Skin Disease

8“Be careful concerning an outbreak of skin disease, to guard diligently and do according to all that the Levitical priests instruct you. As I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do. 9Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way when you came out from Egypt.

Do Not Invade a Debtor’s House

10“When you lend your neighbor any kind of loan, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge. 11You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge outside to you. 12And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13You shall surely return the pledge to him when the sun goes down, so that he may sleep in his garment and bless you. It will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.

Pay Workers on Time

14“You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your brothers or one of the resident aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15On his day you shall give him his wages before the sun goes down, for he is poor and sets his life upon it, lest he cry against you to the LORD and it become sin in you.

Each Person Bears Personal Guilt

16“Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, and sons shall not be put to death for fathers. Each person shall be put to death for his own sin.

Justice for the Resident Alien, Orphan, and Widow

17“You shall not distort the justice of the resident alien or the orphan, and you shall not take a widow’s garment as a pledge. 18You shall remember that you were a servant in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. Therefore I command you to do this thing.

Leave Gleanings for the Vulnerable

19“When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not return to take it. It shall be for the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the branches again. What remains shall be for the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow. 21When you harvest your vineyard, you shall not glean it again afterward. What remains shall be for the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow. 22You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt. Therefore I command you to do this thing.