The Oldest Code of Laws in the World
Translated by C. H. W. Johns
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The opening
§ 1. If a man weave a spell and put a ban upon a man, and has not justified himself, he that wove the spell upon him shall be put to death.
§ 2. If a man has put a spell upon a man, and has not justified himself, he upon whom the spell is laid shall go to the holy river, he shall plunge into the holy river, and if the holy river overcome him, he who wove the spell upon him shall take to himself his house. If the holy river makes that man to be innocent, and has saved him, he who laid the spell upon him shall be put to death. He who plunged into the holy river shall take to himself the house of him who wove the spell upon him.
§ 3. If a man, in a case pending judgement, has uttered threats against the witnesses, or has not justified the word that he has spoken, if that case be a capital suit, that man shall be put to death.
§ 4. If he has offered corn or money to the witnesses, he shall himself bear the sentence of that case.
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About this edition
- The words
- C. H. W. Johns's English translation, copied word for word.
- Copied from
- Left out
- The source library's header, footer and license, in 2 places
- A preface, foreword or afterword
- Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 3 places
- The index