Deuteronomy 25:1-4 - Fairness And Mercy

¹ If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment, and they have been judged, and the righteous one is declared righteous, and the wrongdoer declared guilty, ² then it shall be, if the wrongdoer is worthy to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to fall down. And one shall strike him in his presence, enough for his wrong, by a certain number. ³ He may give him forty stripes, no more, lest he should exceed and beat him above these with many stripes, then your brother would be dishonored before your eyes.

⁴ You shall not muzzle an ox when he treads out the grain.