There are four generative categories of causation in property torts: The ox, the pit, the "consumer," and the conflagration. The characteristics of the ox are not similar to the characteristics of the "consumer." And the characteristics of the "consumer" are not similar to the characteristics of the ox. Nor are either of these, which have an animating spirit, similar to the conflagration, which has no animating spirit. Nor are any of these, which are wont to move and do damage, similar to the pit, which is not wont to move and do damage. The common denominator among them is that they are inclined to do damage, and the duty of their care is upon you, and if they do damage, the defendant must pay from the best land.

Once I have accepted the duty of care for a thing, I have prepared the way for its causation of damage. Once I have partially prepared the way for its causation of damage, I have accepted monetary liability for damages as if I had prepared the way for the entity of its causation of damage. In cases of things that cause damage to properties not covered by sacrilege laws, properties which belong to members of the Covenant, owned properties, and properties located outside the private domain of the defendant or the shared private domain of the plaintiff and the defendant, the defendant must pay the monetary judgement for damages from the best land.

Assessment of monetary liability and monetary equivalence takes place before a constituted court and with the agreement of witnesses who are free men and members of the covenant. And women are equal with regard to damages. And the plaintiff and the defendant may share in the proceeds of sale.

There are five tamin, [which are not accustomed to cause damage; and if they damage, they pay a half-nezek.], and five muadin, [which are accustomed to cause damage, and which pay a full nezek.] A beast is not accustomed to butt [with the horn] or to push [with its whole body], or to bite, or to lie down, or to kick. [All of these are a toldah of keren and pay a half-nezek; thus, "five tamin."] The tooth is accustomed to eat what is fit for it. The foot is accustomed to break as it walks. And an ox which is accustomed [three times, to butt, or gore, or lie down, or kick or bite — these are five muadin to pay a full nezek; but in respect to (the enumeration of) "muadin," they are reckoned as one.], and an ox that damages in the domain of the nizak. [Even keren tam is considered a muad (in a private domain) to pay a full nezek. Our Mishnah is in accordance with the view that keren is "different" in the domain of the nizak, paying a full nezek, even if it is a tam. This is not the halachah.], and a man, [too, is a muad from the beginning, and pays a full nezek if he damages.] A wolf, and a lion, and a bear, and a tiger, and a leopard, and a snake — these are muadin [from the beginning. The reason that they are not included with the "five muadin" above, to make eleven muadin, is that they are not found within the settlement.] R. Eliezer says: When they are domesticated, they are not muadin, and a snake is always a muad. [The halachah is not in accordance with R. Eliezer.] What is the difference between a tam and a muad? A tam pays a half-nezek from its body, and a muad pays a full nezek from the best [of his property, even if the goring ox is not worth the amount of the damage. For in respect to a muad it is written (Exodus 21:36): "He shall pay an ox for an ox," and it is not written that payment is to be made from the body of the goring ox.]