Slaughtering Animals to Eat

15 “But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates,(A) according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you. Those who are clean or unclean may eat it, as they would a gazelle or deer, 16 but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.(B) 17 Within your gates you may not eat: the tenth of your grain, new wine, or oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions.[a] 18 You must eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God chooses—you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite who is within your gates. Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do,[b] 19 and be careful not to neglect the Levite, as long as you live in your land.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:17 Lit or the contributions from your hands
  2. Deuteronomy 12:18 Lit you put your hand to

15 “But you may butcher your animals and eat their meat in any town whenever you want. You may freely eat the animals with which the Lord your God blesses you. All of you, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you now eat gazelle and deer. 16 But you must not consume the blood. You must pour it out on the ground like water.

17 “But you may not eat your offerings in your hometown—neither the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, nor the firstborn of your flocks and herds, nor any offering to fulfill a vow, nor your voluntary offerings, nor your sacred offerings. 18 You must eat these in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose. Eat them there with your children, your servants, and the Levites who live in your towns, celebrating in the presence of the Lord your God in all you do. 19 And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

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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)

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