KJV ORIGINAL
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
If you see the donkey of someone who hates you collapsed under a heavy load, and you feel like walking away without helping, you must definitely stop and help them with it.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is teaching that we should help even our enemies when they're in trouble, putting compassion above personal feelings.
📚 Historical Context
This command was part of God's civil laws given to Moses for the Israelite community in the wilderness around 1400 BC. In an agricultural society, losing a donkey or having it injured could mean economic disaster for a family. These laws were designed to create a compassionate society where people cared for each other regardless of personal conflicts.
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