19
He whose right it is to give punishment for blood, may himself put to death the taker of life when he comes face to face with him.
20
If in his hate he put a sword through him, or waiting secretly for him sent a spear or stone at him, causing his death;
21
Or in hate gave him blows with his hand, causing death; he who gave the death-blow is to be put to death; he is a taker of life: he whose right it is to give punishment for blood may put to death the taker of life when he comes face to face with him.
22
But if a man has given a wound to another suddenly and not in hate, or without design has sent something against him,
23
Or has given him a blow with a stone, without seeing him, so causing his death, though he had nothing against him and no desire to do him evil:
24
Then let the meeting of the people be judge between the man responsible for the death and him who has the right of punishment for blood, acting by these rules:
25
And let the people keep the man responsible for the death safe from the hands of him who has the right of punishment for blood, and send him back to his safe town where he had gone in flight: there let him be till the death of the high priest who was marked with the holy oil.
26
But if ever he goes outside the walls of the safe town where he had gone in flight,
27
And the giver of punishment, meeting him outside the walls of the town, puts him to death, he will not be responsible for his blood:
28
Because he had been ordered to keep inside the safe town till the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the taker of life may come back to the place of his heritage.
29
These rules are to be your guide in judging through all your generations wherever you may be living.