Deuteronomy 19:19-21
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
19 you shall do to the false witness just as that false witness planned to do to the other. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. 20 The rest shall hear and be afraid, and never again do such an evil thing as this in your midst.(A) 21 Do not show pity. Life for life,[a] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot!(B)
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- 19:21 Life for life…: this phrasing of the lex talionis may seem exaggerated, but the law itself is meant to ensure equity and proportional punishment; cf. note on Ex 21:22–25.
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