Deuteronomy 25:2-4

New American Standard Bible

² then it shall be if the wicked person ^[a](A)deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and have him beaten in his presence with the number of lashes according to his ^[b]wrongful act. ^3 (B)He may have him beaten forty times, but not more, so that he does not have him beaten with many more lashes than these, and that your brother does not ^(C)become contemptible in your eyes.

⁴ “^(D)You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing.