Deuteronomy 25:2-4

Common English Bible

² If the guilty party is to be beaten, the presiding judge will have that person lie down and be punished in his presence—the number of blows in measure with the guilt determined. ³ Give no more than forty blows. If more than that is given, your fellow Israelite would be completely disgraced in your eyes.

Working oxen

⁴ Don’t muzzle an ox while it is threshing grain.