[If] he finds it in a stable, he is not responsible for it; in a public domain, he is responsible for it. If it is [in] a graveyard, he may not contaminate himself for it.  If his father says to him: “Contaminate yourself,” or he says to him: “Do not re-turn [it],” he should not obey him.  [If] he unloaded and loaded, unloaded and loaded —- even four or five times —- he is obligated, as it is said (Exodus 23:5): “You shall surely help.” [If] he walked away and sat down, and said: “Since the commandment is [incumbent] upon you, if you want to unload, unload,” he is exempt, as it is said (ibid.): “With him.” If he is old or sick, he is obligated.  It is a commandment in the Torah to unload, but not to load. R’ Shimon says: Even to load. R’ Yose the Galilean says: If it bore more than its [proper] burden, he is not bound to him, for it is said (ibid.): “under its burden” —- a burden which it can bear.

[Between] his own lost article and his father’s lost article —- his own lost article takes precedence; [between] his own lost article and his teacher’s lost article —- his own takes precedence. [Between] his father’s lost article and his teacher’s lost article —- his teacher’s takes precedence, for his father brought him into this world, whereas his teacher —- who taught him wisdom —- brings him into the life of the World to Come. If his father is a scholar, however, his father’s takes precedence.  [If] his father and his teacher were carrying a load, he should put down his teacher’s, and afterwards put down his father’s.  [If] his father and his teacher were in captivity, he should ransom his teacher, and afterwards ransom his father. If his father was a scholar, however, he should ransom his father, and afterwards ransom his teacher.

[If] one deposits an animal or utensils with another, and they are stolen or lost, and, not wishing to swear, [the shomer] pays —- for they said: An unpaid shomer [may] swear and be quit —- [if] the thief is found, he pays the twofold payment; [if] he has slaughtered or sold [the animal], he pays the fourfold or fivefold payment. Whom does he pay? The one to whom the deposit was entrusted.  [If] he swore and did not wish to pay —- [if] the thief is found, he pays the twofold payment; [if] he has slaughtered or sold [the animal], he pays the fourfold or fivefold payment. Whom does he pay? The owner of the deposit.

[If] one rents a cow from another and lends it to someone else, and it dies naturally, the renter must swear that it died nat-urally, and the borrower must pay the renter. Said R’ Yose: How does that person do business with another’s cow? Rather, the cow should be returned to the owner.