Deuteronomy 12:15-25

New International Version

¹⁵ Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer,^(A) according to the blessing the Lord your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. ¹⁶ But you must not eat the blood;^(B) pour^(C) it out on the ground like water.^{(D) 17} You must not eat in your own towns the tithe^(E) of your grain and new wine and olive oil,^(F) or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give,^(G) or your freewill offerings or special gifts.^{(H) 18} Instead, you are to eat^(I) them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose^(J)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice^(K) before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to. ¹⁹ Be careful not to neglect the Levites^(L) as long as you live in your land.^(M)

²⁰ When the Lord your God has enlarged your territory^(N) as he promised^(O) you, and you crave meat^(P) and say, “I would like some meat,” then you may eat as much of it as you want. ²¹ If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put his Name^(Q) is too far away from you, you may slaughter animals from the herds and flocks the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you, and in your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want.^{(R) 22} Eat them as you would gazelle or deer.^(S) Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat. ²³ But be sure you do not eat the blood,^(T) because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.^{(U) 24} You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.^{(V) 25} Do not eat it, so that it may go well^(W) with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is right^(X) in the eyes of the Lord.