NSB(i)
15 »These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.
16 »If any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
17 »If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
18 »And if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.
19 »The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him.
20 »If any of you kills someone you hate by shoving him or by deliberately throwing something at him,
21 or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer.
22 »Should you accidentally kill someone who was not your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but did not mean to kill him.
23 »Or if you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you did not know the person was there, he was not your enemy, and you were not trying to harm him.
24 »Then the community must use these rules in order to decide if you are innocent or if the dead person’s relative can avenge the death.
25 »If you are innocent, the community must protect you from that relative. They must take you back to the city of refuge you fled to. You must live there until the death of the chief priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26 »But do not go outside the city of refuge you fled to.
27 »If the relative who can avenge the death finds you outside the city of refuge and kills you, the relative is not guilty of murder.
28 »Accused murderers must stay in their city of refuge until the death of the chief priest. They may go back to their own property only after his death.