Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he {was} not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. {slay...: Heb. smite him in life} {in...: Heb. from yesterday the third day}

That the slayer that killeth {any} person unawares {and} unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote {him} shall surely be put to death; {for} he {is} a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:

And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: {he...: Heb. no blood shall be to him}

And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, {that} every one that findeth me shall slay me.

And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband {neither} name nor remainder upon the earth. {upon...: Heb. upon the face of the earth}

Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, {As} the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. {that...: Heb. that the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy}

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to {execute} wrath upon him that doeth evil.

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, {being} matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. {punished: Heb. avenged}

And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.