償ひの道、あるいはハンムラビの法典 Codex Hammurabi

主の掟、あるいは償ひの道 The Code of Laws

32. 捕虜の解放

32. 将校または下士官、（戦争中の）『王の道』にて虜（とりこ）となるを、商人が身請けし、その里に連れ戻すなら。

家に帰らば、己が身上買ひ戻すべき金があるなら、己が身請け出すべし。

己が身上買ひ戻すべき金もないなら、里の寺院これを請け出すべし。

身請けすべきもの寺院に無くば、宮廷これを請け出すべし。

その畑・庭・家は、身請けが為に譲らるること罷りならず。

If a chieftain or a man is captured on the "Way of the King" (in war), and a merchant buy him free, and bring him back to his place; if he have the means in his house to buy his freedom, he shall buy himself free: if he have nothing in his house with which to buy himself free, he shall be bought free by the temple of his community; if there be nothing in the temple with which to buy him free, the court shall buy his freedom. His field, garden, and house shall not be given for the purchase of his freedom.