9148. Verses 7-15 When a man delivers to his companion silver or vessels for safe keeping, and it is taken away by theft out of the man's house, if the thief is caught he shall repay double. If the thief is not caught, the master of the house shall be brought to God^a [to see] whether or not he has put his hand into his companion's property.^b For every matter of transgression - [whether it is] for an ox, for an ass, for a member of the flock, for clothing, [or] for anything that is lost, about which one says, This is it - the case^c of both parties shall come even to God,^a and the one whom God condemns^d shall repay double to his companion. When a man delivers to his companion an ass, or an ox, or a member of the flock, or any beast for safe keeping, and it dies or is broken, or is led away captive, and no one sees it, an oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, [to see] whether or not its owner has put his hand into his companion's property^b and taken it; and [the other man] shall not make repayment. But if it has indeed been taken away from him by theft, he shall make repayment to its owner. If it has been torn to pieces, he shall bring it [as] witness;^e he shall not make repayment for what has been torn. [And] when a man borrows something from his companion, and it is broken^f or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make repayment. If its owner is with it, he shall not make repayment; if he is a hired servant he shall come in his hire. 'When a man delivers to his companion silver or vessels for safe keeping' means truths derived from good, and factual knowledge that accords with them, in the memory. 'And it is taken away by theft out of the man's house' means the loss of them from there. 'If the thief is caught' means recollection. 'He shall repay double' means restoration to the complete amount. 'If the thief is not caught' means, if there is no recollection of what has been taken away. 'The master of the house shall be brought to God' means enquiring of good. '[To see] whether or not he has put his hand into his companion's property' means whether it has entered into that good. 'For every matter of transgression' means any harm whatever and any loss whatever. '[Whether it is] for an ox, for an ass, for a member of the flock' means [any harm done to] good or truth, exterior or interior, [or else any loss of them]. 'For clothing' means [any harm done to or else loss of] truth on the level of the senses. '[Or] for anything that is lost, about which one says, This is it' means anything uncertain. 'The case of both parties shall come even to God, and the one whom God condemns' means enquiry made and decision reached through truth. 'Shall repay double to his companion' means making amends to the complete amount. 'When a man delivers to his companion an ass, or an ox, or a member of the flock, or any beast for safe keeping' means truth and good, exterior and interior, in the memory, and anything there belonging to an affection for them. 'And it dies or is broken' means loss or harm. 'Or is led away captive' means removal. 'And no one sees it' means which the mind is not aware of. 'An oath of Jehovah shall be between them both' means enquiry made through truths from the Word regarding every single aspect of these things. '[To see] whether or not its owner has put his hand into his companion's property and taken it' means being joined together under [the influence of] good. 'And [the other man] shall not make repayment' means that no harm has been done. 'But if it has indeed been taken away from him by theft' means if loss has taken place. 'He shall make repayment to its owner' means restoration, to replace it. 'If it has been torn to pieces' means if harm is done for which the person is not blameworthy. 'He shall bring it [as] witness' means confirmation of this. 'He shall not make repayment for what has been torn' means that there shall be no punishment. 'And when a man borrows something from his companion' means truth from a different stock. 'And it is broken or dies' means harm done to it or the annihilation of it. 'Its owner not being with it' means if the good of that truth does not exist along with [the general good]. 'He shall surely make repayment' means undertaking restoration. 'If its owner is with it, he shall not make repayment' means that if the good of truth is present along with it no restoration is required. 'If he is a hired servant' means if for the sake of beneficial gain. 'He shall come in his hire' means being submissive and subservient.

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