Deuteronomy 12:20-28
New American Standard Bible
20 “When the Lord your God extends your border (A)as He has [a]promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because [b]you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, [c]whatever you desire. 21 If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter animals from your herd and flock which the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates [d]whatever you desire. 22 Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you may eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it. 23 Only be sure (B)not to eat the blood, for the blood is the [e]life, and you shall not eat the [f]life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water. 25 You shall not eat it, so that (C)it may go well for you and your sons after you, since (D)you will be doing what is right in the sight of the Lord. 26 (E)Only your holy things which you may have and your vowed offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the Lord chooses. 27 And (F)you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, and (G)you shall eat the flesh.
28 “Be careful and listen to all these words which I am commanding you, so that (H)it may go well for you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Deuteronomy 12:20 Lit spoken to
- Deuteronomy 12:20 Lit your soul desires
- Deuteronomy 12:20 Lit in every desire of your soul
- Deuteronomy 12:21 Lit in every desire of your soul
- Deuteronomy 12:23 Lit soul
- Deuteronomy 12:23 Lit soul
Deuteronomy 12:20-28
New Living Translation
20 “When the Lord your God expands your territory as he has promised, and you have the urge to eat meat, you may freely eat meat whenever you want. 21 It might happen that the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—is a long way from your home. If so, you may butcher any of the cattle, sheep, or goats the Lord has given you, and you may freely eat the meat in your hometown, as I have commanded you. 22 Anyone, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you do now with gazelle and deer. 23 But never consume the blood, for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the lifeblood with the meat. 24 Instead, pour out the blood on the ground like water. 25 Do not consume the blood, so that all may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what pleases the Lord.
26 “Take your sacred gifts and your offerings given to fulfill a vow to the place the Lord chooses. 27 You must offer the meat and blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your other sacrifices must be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but you may eat the meat. 28 Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
