Damages to Property Chapter 13

כֵּלִים שֶׁנָּפְלוּ לַבּוֹר וְנִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ בַּעַל הַבּוֹר פָּטוּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כא לג) "וְנָפַל שָׁמָּה שּׁוֹר אוֹ חֲמוֹר" מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שׁוֹר וְלֹא אָדָם חֲמוֹר וְלֹא כֵּלִים. אֲפִלּוּ נָפַל שׁוֹר בְּכֵלָיו וּמֵת הַשּׁוֹר וְנִשְׁתַּבְּרוּ כֵּלָיו חַיָּב עַל הַבְּהֵמָה וּפָטוּר עַל הַכֵּלִים:

When utensils fall into a cistern and break, the owner of the cistern is not liable. [This is derived from Exodus 21:33, which] states: "And an ox or a donkey fell there." The Oral Tradition interprets this as an exclusion: "'An ox' and not a man; 'a donkey' and not utensils." Even when an ox fell [into a cistern] when carrying utensils and died and broke the utensils, the owner is liable for the ox, but not for the utensils.

הַבּוֹר מֵאֲבוֹת נְזִיקִין הוּא וְתוֹלְדוֹתָיו כָּמוֹהוּ מוּעָדִין מִתְּחִלָּתָן. וְכָל הַמַּנִּיחַ תַּקָּלָה הֲרֵי זוֹ תּוֹלֶדֶת הַבּוֹר וְאִם הֻזַּק בָּהּ אָדָם אוֹ בְּהֵמָה מְשַׁלֵּם זֶה שֶׁהִנִּיחַ הַתַּקָּלָה נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם בֵּין הִפְקִיר הַתַּקָּלָה בֵּין לֹא הִפְקִירָהּ. וְאִם הֻזְּקוּ בָּהּ כֵּלִים פָּטוּר:

A cistern is considered one of the general categories of causes of damage. Its derivatives, like it, are considered mu'adim from the outset. Whenever a person leaves an obstacle [in the path of other living beings], it is considered to be a derivative of a cistern. If a person or an animal is injured because of it, the person who caused the obstacle to exist is liable, whether or not he renounced ownership of it. If it caused damage to utensils, [the person responsible] is not held liable.

כֵּיצַד. הַמַּנִּיחַ אַבְנוֹ אוֹ סַכִּינוֹ אוֹ תִּבְנוֹ אוֹ מַשָּׂאוֹ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהֻזְּקוּ בָּהֶן בֵּין אָדָם בֵּין בְּהֵמָה חַיָּב נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם. וְכֵן אִם הִנִּיחָן בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְהִפְקִיר רְשׁוּתוֹ וְלֹא הִפְקִירָן נִתְקָל בַּקַּרְקַע וְנֶחְבָּט בְּתַקָּלָה זוֹ וְהֻזַּק בָּהּ חַיָּב בַּעַל הַתַּקָּלָה. וְאִם הֻזְּקוּ כֵּלִים בְּכָל אֵלּוּ אוֹ נִטַּנְּפוּ פָּטוּר:

What is implied? When a person leaves his stone, his knife, his straw, his burden or the like in the public domain, and they cause injury to another human or to an animal, [the first person] is liable for the full amount of the damages. Similarly, if he left such items on his property and declared his property - but not these items - ownerless, and a person stumbled on the ground and received a blow from such an item that caused him injury, the person who caused the obstacle to exist is liable. If the person's utensils became damaged or soiled in such a situation, [the person who caused the obstacle to exist] is not liable.

הִכְנִיס שׁוֹרוֹ לַחֲצַר בַּעַל הַבַּיִת שֶׁלֹּא בִּרְשׁוּת וְהִרְבִּיץ גְּלָלִים וְנִטַּנְּפוּ בָּהֶן כֵּלָיו שֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת פָּטוּר. שֶׁהַגָּלָל זֶה תּוֹלֶדֶת בּוֹר הוּא וְלֹא מָצָאנוּ בּוֹר שֶׁחִיֵּב בּוֹ עַל הַכֵּלִים:

If a person brought his ox into a courtyard belonging to another person without permission, the ox defecated, and the feces soiled utensils belonging to the owner, [the owner of the ox] is not liable. For the feces are considered to be a derivative of a cistern, and [the owner of] a cistern is never liable for damage to utensils.

הַמַּנִּיחַ אֶת הַכַּד בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהָלַךְ [הַמְהַלֵּךְ] וְנִתְקַל בָּהּ וּשְׁבָרָהּ פָּטוּר לְפִי שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לְהִתְבּוֹנֵן בַּדֶּרֶךְ כְּשֶׁהֵן מְהַלְּכִין. וְאִם הֻזַּק בָּהּ הֲרֵי בַּעַל הַכַּד חַיָּב בִּנְזָקָיו וַאֲפִלּוּ הִפְקִיר הַכַּד. שֶׁכָּל הַמַּפְקִיר נְזָקָיו בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ רְשׁוּת לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ מִתְּחִלָּה חַיָּב כְּאִלּוּ לֹא הִפְקִירָן:

[The following laws apply when a person] leaves his jug in the public domain, and a passerby stumbles over it and breaks it. The passerby is not liable, because it is not the practice of people to look out on the way as they walk. If [the passerby] was injured, the owner of the jug is liable for his injury. [This applies] even if he declared his jug ownerless. For whenever a person declares ownerless an obstacle that he has created in a domain in which he has no permission to place it at the outset, he is liable, as if he had never declared it ownerless.

הִנִּיחַ אֶת הַכַּד בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ רְשׁוּת לְהַנִּיחָהּ שָׁם כְּגוֹן מְקוֹם הַקְּרָנוֹת שֶׁל גִּתּוֹת וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן וְנִתְקַל בָּהּ וּשְׁבָרָהּ חַיָּב. וְאִם הֻזַּק בָּהּ הַמְהַלֵּךְ בַּעַל הַכַּד פָּטוּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל. וְאִם הָיְתָה אֲפֵלָה אוֹ שֶׁמִּלֵּא כָּל הַדֶּרֶךְ כַּדִּים פָּטוּר עַל שְׁבִירָתָהּ. וְאִם נִתְקַל בָּהּ הֲרֵי בַּעַל הַכַּד חַיָּב. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה:

If the person placed the jug down in a place where he had permission to place it - e.g., the marketplace before the wine vats or the like - and a passerby stumbles over it and breaks it, [the passerby] is liable. If the passerby was injured, the owner of the jug is not liable, because [the passerby] should have looked to see [if there was anything in his way]. If it was dark or [if the owner of the jugs] filled the entire path with jugs, the passerby is not liable for breaking it. If he is injured, the owner of the jugs is liable. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.

נִשְׁבְּרָה כַּדּוֹ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהֻחְלַק אֶחָד בַּמַּיִם אוֹ שֶׁלָּקָה בַּחֲרָסֶיהָ פָּטוּר מִדִּינֵי אָדָם לְפִי שֶׁאָנוּס הוּא. וְחַיָּב בְּדִינֵי שָׁמַיִם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא סִלֵּק הַחֲרָסִים. וַהֲרֵי הַחֲרָסִים וְהַמַּיִם כְּהֶפְקֵר וְלֹא הִפְקִיר אֶלָּא אַחַר שֶׁנֶּאֱנַס וּלְפִיכָךְ פָּטוּר. וְאִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לִזְכּוֹת בַּחֲרָסֶיהָ וְהֻזַּק בָּהֶן אַחֵר חַיָּב. וְהוּא הַדִּין לְנָפְלָה גְּמַלּוֹ וְלֹא הֶעֱמִידָהּ וְכָל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהּ. וְאִם הֻזְּקוּ כֵּלִים בְּכָל אֵלּוּ פָּטוּר בֵּין הִפְקִיר בֵּין לֹא הִפְקִיר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

[The following rules apply when] a jug belonging to a person breaks [accidentally] in the public domain, and another person slips on the water [that spilled] or receives a blow from its shards. The owner cannot be held liable by an earthly court, because [the jug] was broken by accident. He has, however, a moral and a spiritual obligation, because he did not gather the shards. The shards and the water are like ownerless entities, [even though] he did not rescind his ownership until after the accident, he is not held liable. If he intended to take possession of the shards, and another person was damaged by them, he is liable. Similar laws apply to a person whose camel fell and he did not raise it up, or the like. In all these situations, if utensils were damaged, the owner of the obstacle is not liable, whether he declared his object ownerless or not, as we have explained.

שְׁנֵי קַדָּרִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ זֶה אַחַר זֶה וְנִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן. אִם הָיָה לָרִאשׁוֹן לַעֲמֹד וְלֹא עָמַד חַיָּב הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא אָנוּס בִּשְׁעַת נְפִילָה אֵינוֹ אָנוּס בִּהְיוֹתוֹ מֻטָּל בַּדֶּרֶךְ וַהֲרֵי הוּא יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד. וְאִם לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמֹד פָּטוּר וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִזְהִיר לָזֶה שֶׁנִּתְקַל בּוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא טָרוּד בְּנַפְשׁוֹ:

[The following laws apply when] two potters were following each other on a path, the first tripped and fell, and the second tripped over the first. If the first could have stood up but failed to do so, he is liable for the damages suffered by the second. Although he accidentally fell, the accident did not [force him to remain] lying in the road. [Therefore,] since he could have stood up, [he is liable]. If he was unable to have risen [before the second potter tripped over him], he is not liable. [This applies] even though he did not warn [the potter] who tripped over him. [The rationale is] that he is concerned with his own [difficulties].

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב בִּנְזָקָיו שֶׁל שֵׁנִי כְּשֶׁהֻזַּק גּוּפוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי. אֲבָל אִם הֻזְּקוּ כֵּלָיו פָּטוּר שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַל הַכֵּלִים בַּבּוֹר וְכָל תַּקָּלָה תּוֹלֶדֶת בּוֹר הוּא כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

When do we say that he is liable for the damages to the second [potter]? When he suffers damage to his body. If, however, his utensils are damaged, [the first potter] is not liable. For [an owner of] a cistern is not liable for the damage to utensils, and any obstacle is considered to be a derivative of a cistern, as explained above.

הַקַּדָרִים וְהַזַּגָּגִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה וְנִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי בַּשֵּׁנִי וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן יֵשׁ לוֹ לַעֲמֹד וְלֹא עָמַד. הָרִאשׁוֹן חַיָּב בְּנִזְקֵי גּוּפוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי בֵּין שֶׁהֻזַּק בְּגוּפוֹ שֶׁל רִאשׁוֹן הַמֻּטָּל בָּאָרֶץ בֵּין שֶׁהֻזַּק בְּמַשָּׂאוֹ. וְהַשֵּׁנִי חַיָּב בְּנִזְקֵי גּוּפוֹ שֶׁל שְׁלִישִׁי אִם הֻזַּק בְּגוּפוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי. אֲבָל אִם הֻזַּק בְּמַשָּׂאוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי שֶׁנָּפַל פָּטוּר. שֶׁהֲרֵי אוֹמֵר לוֹ הַשֵּׁנִי בּוֹר זֶה שֶׁהוּא מַשָּׂאִי אֵין אֲנִי הַכּוֹרֶה אוֹתוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הָרִאשׁוֹן הִפִּיל הַשֵּׁנִי עִם מַשָּׂאוֹ. וְאִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה כֻּלָּן פְּטוּרִין:

[The following rules apply when] potters, glass blowers and the like were walking one after the other, the first one tripped and fell, the second tripped over the first one, and the third tripped over the second. Each of them had time to stand up, but failed to do so. The first is liable for the damages to the body of the second, regardless of whether he was injured by the body of the first person who is lying on the earth, or he was injured by his burden. The second is liable for the injuries suffered by the body of the third person if he was injured by the second person's body. If, however, he was injured by the second person's burden, [the second person] is not liable. For he will say: "I did not dig this cistern - i.e., my burden." For it was the first person who caused the second person and his burden to fall. In all cases, [if the person who fell] warned [the person who tripped over him or his burden], [the person who fell] is not liable.

נָפַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְהָיָה מֻטָּל לְרֹחַב הַדֶּרֶךְ וְנִתְקַל אֶחָד בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וְאֶחָד בְּרַגְלָיו וְאֶחָד בְּבִטְנוֹ הֲרֵי הוּא חַיָּב בְּנִזְקֵי כֻּלָּן הוֹאִיל וְהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמֹד וְלֹא עָמַד:

If the first person fell and was lying lengthwise across the road and one person tripped over his head, another [tripped] over his legs and a third over his abdomen, he is liable for the injuries each suffered, for he had the potential to arise.

הַשּׁוֹפֵךְ אֶת הַמַּיִם בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהֻזַּק בָּהֶן אַחֵר חַיָּב בִּנְזָקָיו. וְאִם נִטַּנְפוּ כֵּלָיו פָּטוּר כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. נִבְלְעוּ הַמַּיִם בָּאָרֶץ וְנִשְׁאֲרָה הָאָרֶץ חֲלָקָה וְהֻחְלַק וְנָפַל וְהֻזַּק בַּקַּרְקַע הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב בִּנְזָקָיו:

When a person pours water into the public domain, and another person is injured by it, [the one who poured out the water] is liable for the damages. If the other person's garments were soiled, [the one who poured out the water] is not liable, as we have explained. If the water was absorbed by the earth, but the earth remained slippery, and a person slipped and fell and was injured by the ground, [the one who poured out the water] is liable.

כָּל אֵלּוּ שֶׁפּוֹתְקִין בִּיבוֹתֵיהֶן וְגוֹרְפִין מְעָרוֹתֵיהֶן אֵין לָהֶן רְשׁוּת לִשְׁפֹּךְ הַמַּיִם בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה אֲבָל בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים יֵשׁ לָהֶן רְשׁוּת. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אִם הֻזַּק אָדָם אוֹ בְּהֵמָה בַּמַּיִם חַיָּבִין נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם:

All those who open their sewage vats and rake out their cesspools do not have permission to pour this water into the public domain during the summer months. In the rainy season, a person has permission [to release such sewage]. Nevertheless, if a person or an animal is damaged by the water, the one who released it is responsible for the entire sum of the damages.

לֹא יוֹצִיא אָדָם תִּבְנוֹ וְקַשּׁוֹ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּדוּשׁוּ וְיַעֲשׂוּ לוֹ זֶבֶל. וְאִם הוֹצִיא קְנָסוּהוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כְּהֶפְקֵר וְכָל הַקּוֹדֵם בָּהֶן זָכָה מֵעֵת שֶׁנִּדּוֹשׁוּ וְהִשְׁבִּיחוּ. וְאִם קָדַם אָדָם וְזָכָה בָּהֶן מִשְּׁעַת הוֹצָאָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אֵין מוֹצִיאִין מִיָּדוֹ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן כְּהֶפְקֵר אִם הֻזַּק בָּהֶן אָדָם אוֹ בְּהֵמָה הֲרֵי זֶה הַמּוֹצִיא חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם:

A person should not take his straw and hay out to the public domain so that it will be trod upon and become fit to use as fertilizer. If he did take it out, our Sages penalized him and declared the straw to be ownerless. The first person to take possession of it acquires it as his own, once it has been trod upon and its value has increased. If a person took possession of it before that time - i.e., directly after it was taken out to the public domain - it should not be expropriated from him. Although the straw and the hay are ownerless, if [they cause damage to] a person or an animal, the person who brought it out [to the public domain] must compensate [for the damages].

יֵשׁ לְכָל אָדָם לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַזֶּבֶל וְהַגְּלָלִים לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים בִּשְׁעַת הוֹצָאַת זְבָלִים וְלִצְבֹּר אוֹתָן שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִשּׁוֹף בְּרַגְלֵי אָדָם [וְרַגְלֵי בְּהֵמָה]. וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אִם הִזִּיק חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם. וְחַיָּבִין עַל זֶה הַגָּלָל מִשּׁוּם גֵּזֶל כֵּיוָן שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שֶׁבַח אִם נִדּוֹשׁ לֹא קָנְסוּ בּוֹ:

A person may take out compost and manure to the public domain at a time when everyone does so and amass them there for 30 days so that they will be trodden upon by people and animals. Although [permission is granted], if these substances cause damage the owner is liable for the damages. [If another person takes] this manure, he is liable for theft. Since its value will not increase [appreciably] by being trodden upon, [our Sages] did not penalize him [by declaring it ownerless].

אֵין שׁוֹרִין טִיט בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְאֵין לוֹבְנִים לְבֵנִים. אֲבָל גּוֹבְלִין טִיט בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אֲבָל לֹא לְבֵנִים:

Mortar may not be left to soak in the public domain, nor may bricks be fashioned there. One may, however, mix mortar in the public domain. One may not, however, mix bricks.

הַבּוֹנֶה בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים הַמֵּבִיא אֲבָנִים מֵבִיא וְהַבּוֹנֶה בּוֹנֶה. וְכֻלָּן שֶׁהִזִּיקוּ חַיָּבִין לְשַׁלֵּם נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם:

When a person constructs a building in the public domain, the one who brings stones may bring stones, and the one who builds may build. If any of them causes damage, they are obligated to pay for the entire sum of the damages.

הַחוֹצֵב שֶׁחָצַב אֶבֶן וּמְסָרָהּ לְסַתָּת וְהֻזַּק בָּהּ אָדָם אוֹ בְּהֵמָה הַסַּתָּת חַיָּב. וְסַתָּת שֶׁמָּסַר לְחַמָּר הַחַמָּר חַיָּב. מָסַר חַמָּר לְכַתָּף הַכַּתָּף חַיָּב. מָסַר כַּתָּף לְבוֹנֶה הַבּוֹנֶה חַיָּב. מְסָרָהּ הַבּוֹנֶה לְזֶה שֶׁמְּתַקֵּן יְשִׁיבָתָהּ בַּבִּנְיָן הַמְתַקֵּן חַיָּב. וְאִם אַחַר שֶׁהֶעֱלוּהָ עַל גַּבֵּי הַדִּימוֹס נָפְלָה וְהִזִּיקָה וְהָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בְּקַבְּלָנוּת כֻּלָּן חַיָּבִין. וּבִשְׂכִירוּת הָאַחֲרוֹן חַיָּב וְכֻלָּן פְּטוּרִין:

When a quarrier hews out a stone and gives it to a stonecutter, and it causes damage to a human or an animal, the stonecutter is liable. If the stonecutter gives it to a donkey-driver [and it causes damage], the donkey-driver is liable. If the donkey-driver gives it to a porter [and it causes damage], the porter is liable. If the porter gives it to a builder [and it causes damage], the builder is liable. If the builder gives it to the person who positions it on the building [and it causes damage], the latter is liable. If they were working as contractors [in a partnership], and after it was positioned in its place on the building it fell and caused damage, they all share in the liability. If they are hired laborers, the one [who positioned the stone in its place] is liable, and the others are not liable.

הַכֹּתֶל וְהָאִילָן שֶׁנָּפְלוּ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהִזִּיקוּ פָּטוּר מִלְּשַׁלֵּם וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִפְקִירָן. לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָן דּוֹמִים לַבּוֹר שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין תְּחִלָּתָן לְהַזִּיק. וְאִם הָיוּ רְעוּעִין בֵּית דִּין קוֹבְעִין לוֹ זְמַן לָקֹץ אֶת הָאִילָן וְלִסְתֹּר אֶת הַכֹּתֶל. וְכַמָּה הַזְּמַן שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. נָפְלוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַזְּמַן וְהִזִּיקוּ פָּטוּר לְאַחַר הַזְּמַן חַיָּב מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשִּׁהָה אוֹתָן:

When a wall or a tree falls into the public domain and causes damage, the owner is not required to compensate [for the damages]. [This applies] even when he declared [the tree or the wall] ownerless. [The rationale is that these entities] do not resemble a cistern, for at the outset, [it is not likely] that they will cause damage. If they were not sturdy, the court sets a time for the person by which he must cut down the tree and tear down the wall. How much time is granted him? Thirty days. If the tree or the wall falls within this time and causes damage, he is not liable. [If it falls] afterwards, he is liable, because he delayed [beyond the limits set].

הַמַּצְנִיעַ אֶת הַקּוֹץ וְאֶת הַזְּכוּכִית וְהַגּוֹדֵר גְּדֵרוֹ בְּקוֹצִים וְהִפְרִיחַ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהֻזַּק אֶחָד בָּהֶן חַיָּב נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם. וְאִם גָּדַר בְּקוֹצִים בְּצִמְצוּם בְּתוֹךְ רְשׁוּתוֹ פָּטוּר לְפִי שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לְהִתְחַכֵּךְ בַּכְּתָלִים:

When a person places thorns or glass [within a wall], or when a person makes a fence of thorns that project into the public domain, and it causes damage to another person, he is liable for the full extent of the damages. If he makes a fence of thorns that are contained within his property, he is not held liable, for it is not ordinary for people to rub against a wall [in the public domain].

הַמַּצְנִיעַ קוֹצָיו וּזְכוּכִיּוֹתָיו בְּתוֹךְ כָּתְלוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ וּבָא בַּעַל הַכֹּתֶל וְסָתַר אֶת כָּתְלוֹ וְנָפַל לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְהִזִּיק. אִם כֹּתֶל רָעוּעַ הָיָה הַמַּצְנִיעַ חַיָּב. וְאִם כֹּתֶל בָּרִיא הוּא בַּעַל הַכֹּתֶל חַיָּב:

[The following laws apply when] a person hid his thorns and [fragments of] glass in a wall belonging to a colleague, the owner of the wall came and tore down his wall into the public domain, and [the thorns or glass] caused damage. If the wall was shaky, the person who hid [the thorns or glass] is liable. If the wall was strong, its owner is liable.

חֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ מַצְנִיעִין אֶת הַקּוֹצִים וְאֶת הַזְּכוּכִיּוֹת בְּתוֹךְ שְׂדוֹתֵיהֶם בְּעֹמֶק שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים בָּאָרֶץ כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תַּעֲלֵם הַמַּחֲרֵשָׁה. וַאֲחֵרִים שׂוֹרְפִים אוֹתָן בְּאֵשׁ. וַאֲחֵרִים מַשְׁלִיכִים אוֹתָן לַיָּם אוֹ לַנָּהָר כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֻזַּק בָּהֶן אָדָם:

The pious men of the early generations would bury thorns and [fragments of] glass in their fields [at least] three handbreadths below the ground, so they would not be lifted up by a plow. Others would burn them in fire. Still others would throw them to the sea or to the river so that other people would not be injured by them.

לֹא יְסַקֵּל אָדָם מֵרְשׁוּתוֹ לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. ואֵין עוֹשִׂין חָלָל תַּחַת רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְלֹא בּוֹרוֹת וְלֹא שִׁיחִין וְלֹא מְעָרוֹת וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָעֲגָלָה יְכוֹלָה לְהַלֵּךְ עַל גַּבֵּיהֶן וְהִיא טְעוּנָה אֲבָנִים שֶׁמָּא תִּפָּחֵת מִלְּמַטָּה שֶׁלֹּא מִדַּעְתּוֹ. וְהַחוֹפֵר בּוֹר לְצָרְכֵי רַבִּים מֻתָּר:

A person should not clear stones from his private property into the public domain. One should not dig a cavity, a cistern, a trench or a cave under the public domain. [This applies] even when [the covering of the cavity is so strong] that it can support a carriage laden with stones, for there is the possibility that [at a later date] it will open from below without his knowledge. It is permitted for a person to dig a cistern for the needs of people at large.

אֵין מוֹצִיאִין זִיזִין וּגְזוּזְטְרָאוֹת לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיוּ לְמַעְלָה מִגָּמָל וְרוֹכְבוֹ. וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יַאֲפִיל הַדֶּרֶךְ עַל בְּנֵי רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים. וְאִם רָצָה כּוֹנֵס לְתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וּמוֹצִיאוֹ. כָּנַס וְלֹא הוֹצִיא הֲרֵי זֶה מוֹצִיא כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַחְזִיר כְּתָלִים לִמְקוֹמָן לְעוֹלָם. שֶׁכָּל מֵצַר שֶׁהֶחְזִיקוּ בּוֹ רַבִּים אָסוּר לְקַלְקְלוֹ:

One should not build projections and balconies that protrude into the public domain unless it is possible for a camel and its rider to pass beneath, and provided it does not cast shadows on the people in the public domain. If he desires, he can withdraw the walls [of his building into his own domain] and build [the projection]. If he did withdraw the walls [of his building], but has not built [a projection], he may do so at any time he desires. Never, however, may he return the walls to their original place. Once people at large have been granted permission to pass through a particular property, it cannot be withdrawn.

לָקַח חָצֵר וּבָהּ זִיזִין וּגְזֻזְטְרָאוֹת יוֹצְאוֹת לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים הֲרֵי זוֹ בְּחֶזְקָתָהּ וְאִם נָפְלָה חוֹזֵר וּבוֹנֶה אוֹתָהּ כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה:

When a person purchased a courtyard with projections and balconies protruding into the public domain, we operate under the presumption [that they were built legally]. If the building falls, he is allowed to rebuild it according to its original proportions.

אִילָן שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֶה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים קוֹצֵץ כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַגָּמָל עוֹבֵר בְּרוֹכְבוֹ. וּמַנִּיחִין מָקוֹם פָּנוּי מִשְּׁתֵי שִׂפְתוֹת הַנָּהָר כְּרֹחַב כִּתְפֵי הַמַּלָּחִים שֶׁיּוֹרְדִין שָׁם וּמוֹשְׁכִין הַסְּפִינָה. וְכָל אִילָן הַנִּמְצָא בְּרֹחַב זֶה קוֹצְצִין אוֹתוֹ מִיָּד וְאֵין מַתְרִין בִּבְעָלָיו שֶׁהֲרֵי מְעַכֵּב מוֹשְׁכֵי הַסְּפִינָה:

When [the foliage of] a tree leans into the public domain, it should be trimmed so that a camel and its rider can pass under it. An empty space should be left next to the banks on both sides of a river wide enough for the crewmen who descend and pull a boat. Any tree that is found in this space should be cut down immediately. A warning need not be given to its owner, for it blocks the crewmen from pulling ships.

מִי שֶׁהָיְתָה דֶּרֶךְ הָרַבִּים עוֹבֶרֶת בְּתוֹךְ שָׂדֵהוּ נְטָלָהּ וּנְתָנָהּ לָהֶם מִן הַצַּד מַה שֶּׁנָּתַן נָתַן וְזָכוּ בּוֹ וְזֶה שֶׁנָּטַל לֹא זָכָה בּוֹ. וְכַמָּה רֹחַב דֶּרֶךְ הָרַבִּים אֵין פָּחוֹת מִשֵּׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמּוֹת:

[The following rules apply when] there was a path for people at large passing through a person's field, he expropriated the path and prepared a new path at the side of the field. What he granted them, they acquire possession of, but he does not acquire possession of [the land] he took. How wide is a path for people at large? Not less than sixteen cubits.