Contracts and Outrages

I.

1 He that does not restore (a thing lent), when it is asked for back again, steals the thing; he robs the man. So he does every day, every night, as long as he keeps in his house his neighbour's property, as though it were his own.

Ii.

2 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! How many in number are Thy contracts, O God?

God answered: "They are six in number. The first is the word-contract; the second is the hand-contract; the third is the contract to the amount of a sheep; the fourth is the contract to the amount of an ox; the fifth is the contract to the amount of a man; the sixth is the contract to the amount of a field, a field in good land, a fruitful one, in good bearing."

3 If a man make the word-contract a mere word, it shall be redeemed by the hand-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the hand-contract.

4 The hand-contract shall be redeemed by the sheep-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the sheep-contract. The sheep-contract shall be redeemed by the ox-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the ox-contract. The ox-contract shall be redeemed by the man-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the man-contract. The man-contract shall be redeemed by the field-contract; he shall give in pledge the amount of the field-contract.

5 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the word-contract, how much is involved in his sin?

God answered: "His sin makes him answerable for the three hundredfold atonement."

6 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the hand-contract, how much is involved in his sin?

God answered: "His sin makes him answerable for the six hundredfold atonement."

7 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the sheep-contract, how much is involved in his sin?

God answered: "His sin makes him answerable for the seven hundredfold atonement."

8 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the ox-contract, how much is involved in his sin?

God answered: "His sin makes him answerable for the eight hundredfold atonement."

9 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the man-contract, how much is involved in his sin?

God answered: "His sin makes him answerable for the nine hundredfold atonement."

10 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the field-contract, how much is involved in his sin?

God answered: "His sin makes him answerable for the thousandfold atonement."

11 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the word-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Three hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, three hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

12 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the hand-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Six hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, six hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

13 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the sheep-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Seven hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seven hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

14 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the ox-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Eight hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, eight hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

15 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the man-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Nine hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, nine hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

16 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man break the field-contract, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "A thousand stripes with the Aspahe-astra, a thousand stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

Iii.

17 If a man rise up to smite a man, it is an Agerepta. If a man come upon a man to smite him, it is an Avaoirishta. If a man actually smite a man with evil aforethought, it is an Aredush. Upon the fifth Aredush he becomes a Peshotanu.

18 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! He that committeth an Agerepta, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "Five stripes with the Aspahe-astra, five stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the second Agerepta, ten stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ten stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the third, fifteen stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifteen stripes with the Sraosho-charana.

19 "On the fourth, thirty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the fifth, fifty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the sixth, sixty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, sixty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the seventh, ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

20 If a man commit an Agerepta for the eighth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

21 If a man commit an Agerepta and refuse to atone for it, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

22 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man commit an Avaoirishta, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "Ten stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ten stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the second Avaoirishta, fifteen stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifteen stripes with the Sraosho-charana.

23 "On the third, thirty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the fourth, fifty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the fifth, seventy stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the sixth, ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

24 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man commit an Avaoirishta for the seventh time, without having atoned for the preceding, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

25 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man commit an Avaoirishta, and refuse to atone for it, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

26 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man commit an Aredush, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "Fifteen stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifteen stripes with the Sraosho-charana.

27 "On the second Aredush, thirty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the third, fifty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the fourth, seventy stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraosho-charana; on the fifth, ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

28 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man commit an Aredush for the sixth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

29 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man commit an Aredush, and refuse to atone for it, what penalty shall he pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

30 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another and hurt him sorely, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

31 God answered: "Thirty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, thirty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; the second time, fifty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; the third time, seventy stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraosho-charana; the fourth time, ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

32 If a man commit that deed for the fifth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

33 If a man commit that deed and refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

34 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that the blood comes, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Fifty stripes with the Aspahe-astra, fifty stripes with the Sraosho-charana; the second time, seventy stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraosho-charana; the third time, ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

35 If he commit that deed for the fourth time, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

36 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that the blood comes, and if he refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

37 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he breaks a bone, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Seventy stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seventy stripes with the Sraosho-charana; the second time, ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

38 If he commit that deed for the third time, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

39 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he breaks a bone, and if he refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

40 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he gives up the ghost, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Ninety stripes with the Aspahe-astra, ninety stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

41 If he commit that deed again, without having atoned for the preceding, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

42 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! If a man smite another so that he gives up the ghost, and if he refuse to atone for it, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "He is a Peshotanu: two hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, two hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."

43 And they shall thenceforth in their doings walk after the way of holiness, after the word of holiness, after the ordinance of holiness.

44 If men of the same faith, either friends or brothers, come to an agreement together, that one may obtain from the other, either goods, or a wife, or knowledge, let him who wants to have goods have them delivered to him; let him who wants to have a wife receive and wed her; let him who wants to have knowledge be taught the holy word.

45 He shall learn on, during the first part of the day and the last, during the first part of the night and the last, that his mind may be increased in knowledge and wax strong in holiness: so shall he sit up, giving thanks and praying to God, that he may be increased in knowledge: he shall rest during the middle part of the day, during the middle part of the night, and thus shall he continue until he can say all the words which former teachers have said.

46 Before God, O Spitama Zarathustra! let no one make bold to deny having received from his neighbour the ox or the garment (he has received from him).

47 Verily I say it unto thee, O Spitama Zarathustra! the man who has a wife is far above him who begets no sons; he who keeps a house is far above him who has none; he who has children is far above the childless man; he who has riches is far above him who has none.

48 And of two men, he who fills himself with meat is filled with good much more than he who does not do so; the latter is all but dead; the former is above him by the worth of an Asperena, by the worth of a sheep, by the worth of an ox, by the worth of a man.

49 It is this man that can strive against the onsets of death; that can strive against the self-moving arrow; that can strive against the winter fiend, with thinnest garment on; that can strive against the wicked tyrant and smite him on the head; it is this man that can strive against the ungodly heretic who does not eat.

49 (bis). The very first time when that deed has been done, without waiting until it is done again.

50 Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one cut off the limbs from his perishable body with knives of brass, yet still worse shall it be.

51 Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one nail his perishable body with nails of brass, yet still worse shall it be.

52 Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one by force throw his perishable body headlong down a precipice a hundred times the height of a man, yet still worse shall it be.

53 Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: should one by force impale his perishable body, yet still worse shall it be.

54 Down there the pain for that deed shall be as hard as any in this world: to wit, that deed which is done, when a man, knowingly lying, swears falsely, with an appeal unto God, the Righteous Judge, and a lie unto God, the Friend.

55 O Maker of the material world, Thou Holy One! He who, knowingly lying, swears falsely, with an appeal unto God, the Righteous Judge, and a lie unto God, the Friend, what is the penalty that he shall pay?

God answered: "Seven hundred stripes with the Aspahe-astra, seven hundred stripes with the Sraosho-charana."