Until when is he required to announce? Until there is time for its neighbors to know of it; [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: Three festivals, and seven days after the last festival, so that he [have] three [days to] go home, three [days to] return, and one day [to] announce.

[If] he mentioned the lost article, but did not mention its distinguishing features, he should not give it to him. As for a de-ceiver —- although he mentions its distinguishing features, he should not give it to him, as it is said (Deuteronomy 22:2): “Until your brother seeks it” [which is interpreted as meaning:] until you test your brother [to determine] whether he is a deceiver or whether he is not a deceiver.  Anything that works and eats shall work and eat; anything that does not work, but eats, shall be sold, as it is said (ibid.): “And you shall return it to him,” [which is interpreted as meaning:] see how you shall return it to him.  What shall be with the money? R’ Tarfon says: He may use it; therefore, if it is lost, he is responsible for it. R’ Akiva says: He may not use it; therefore, if it is lost, he is not responsible for it.

[If] he found scrolls, he may read them once in thirty days; if he does not know how to read, he should roll them. However, he should not study in them for the first time, nor should another read with him.  [If] he found a garment, he should shake it out once in thirty days, and spread it out for its benefit, but not for his honor.  [As for] silverware and cop-perware —- he should use them for their benefit, but not to wear them out.  [As for] gold utensils and glassware —- he may not touch them until Elijah comes.  [If] he found a sack or a basket, or anything he is not accustomed to taking, he need not take [it].

What is [considered] a lost article? [If] he finds a donkey or a cow grazing by the road —- this is not [considered] a lost article; a donkey with its gear overturned, [or] a cow running among the vineyards —- this is [considered] a lost article.  [If] he returned it and it ran away, returned it [again] and it ran away —- even four or five times —- he is obligated to return it, as it is said (Deuteronomy 22:1): “You shall surely return them.”  [If] he refrained from [earning] a sela, he shall not say to him: “Give me a sela”; rather, he pays him his wage like an idle worker. If there is a court, he may stipulate before the court; if there is no court, before whom shall he stipulate? His own takes precedence.