³² They pounced on the plunder^(A) and, taking sheep, cattle and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood.^(B)

¹⁹ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder^(A) and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”

¹⁷ “‘This is a lasting ordinance^(A) for the generations to come,^(B) wherever you live:^(C) You must not eat any fat or any blood.^(D)’”

¹⁶ But you must not eat the blood;^(A) pour^(B) it out on the ground like water.^(C)

²⁶ “‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.^(A)

“‘Do not practice divination^(B) or seek omens.^(C)

¹⁰ “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood,^(A) and I will cut them off from the people. ¹¹ For the life of a creature is in the blood,^(B) and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.^{[a](C) 12} Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

¹³ “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,^{(D) 14} because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”^(E)

⁴ “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.^(A)

²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(A) from sexual immorality,^(B) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^(C)

²³ But be sure you do not eat the blood,^(A) because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.^{(B) 24} You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.^(C)