Deuteronomy 25:1-4 - Fairness And Mercy
1 When there ariseth a controversy between men, and they come nigh unto judgment, and judgment is granted them, then shall they justify the righteous man, and condemn the lawless. 2 And it shall be - if the lawless man be, worthy of stripes, then shall the judge cause him to lie down and he beaten before him, according to the measure of his lawlessness, by number: 3 forty stripes, may he give him not going beyond, - lest, if he do go beyond to smite him above these, with many stripes, then should thy brother be of no account in thine eyes.
4 Thou shalt not muzzle an ox when he is treading out the corn.