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.

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.

⁶ For if not, he who has the right of punishment may go running after the taker of life in the heat of his wrath, and overtake him because the way is long, and give him a death-blow; though it is not right for him to be put to death because he was not moved by hate.

¹² The responsible men of his town are to send and take him, and give him up to the one who has the right of punishment to be put to death.

³ So that any man who in error and without design has taken the life of another, may go in flight to them: and they will be safe places for you from him who has the right of punishment for blood.

⁵ And if the one who has the right of punishment comes after him, they are not to give the taker of life up to him; because he was the cause of his neighbour's death without designing it and not in hate.

¹² In these towns you may be safe from him who has the right of punishment; so that death may not overtake the taker of life till he has been judged by the meeting of the people.

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:

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: