Deuteronomy 12
New King James Version
A Prescribed Place of Worship
12 “These (A)are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you to possess, (B)all[a] the days that you live on the earth. 2 (C)You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, (D)on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 And (E)you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their [b]wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place. 4 You shall not (F)worship the Lord your God with such things.
5 “But you shall seek the (G)place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His (H)dwelling[c] place; and there you shall go. 6 (I)There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the (J)firstborn of your herds and flocks. 7 And (K)there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and (L)you shall rejoice in [d]all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
8 “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—(M)every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes— 9 for as yet you have not come to the (N)rest[e] and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you. 10 But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you (O)rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety, 11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord. 12 And (P)you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the (Q)Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 13 Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.
15 “However, (R)you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; (S)the unclean and the clean may eat of it, (T)of the gazelle and the deer alike. 16 (U)Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the earth like water. 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the [f]heave offering of your hand. 18 But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in [g]all to which you put your hands. 19 [h]Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.
20 “When the Lord your God (V)enlarges your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘Let me eat meat,’ because you long to eat meat, you may eat as much meat as your heart desires. 21 If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from (W)you, then you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock which the Lord has given you, just as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your gates as much as your heart desires. 22 Just as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you may eat them; the unclean and the clean alike may eat them. 23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, (X)for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, (Y)that it may go well with you and your children after you, (Z)when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord. 26 Only the (AA)holy things which you have, and your vowed offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the Lord chooses. 27 And (AB)you shall offer your burnt offerings, the meat 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 you shall eat the meat. 28 Observe and obey all these words which I command you, (AC)that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
Beware of False Gods
29 “When (AD)the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, 30 take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31 (AE)You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every [i]abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for (AF)they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; (AG)you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 12:1 As long as
- Deuteronomy 12:3 Heb. Asherim
- Deuteronomy 12:5 home
- Deuteronomy 12:7 all that you undertake
- Deuteronomy 12:9 Or place of rest
- Deuteronomy 12:17 contribution
- Deuteronomy 12:18 all your undertakings
- Deuteronomy 12:19 Be careful
- Deuteronomy 12:31 detestable action
Deuteronomy 12
English Standard Version
The Lord's Chosen Place of Worship
12 (A)“These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, (B)all the days that you live on the earth. 2 (C)You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, (D)on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces (E)their pillars and burn their (F)Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and (G)destroy their name out of that place. 4 (H)You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way. 5 But you shall seek (I)the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation[a] there. There you shall go, 6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, (J)your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the (K)firstborn of your herd and of your flock. 7 And (L)there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and (M)you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
8 “You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, (N)everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, 9 for you have not as yet come to (O)the rest and to the inheritance that the Lord your God is giving you. 10 But when (P)you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, (Q)and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety, 11 then to (R)the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, (S)your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the Lord. 12 And (T)you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since (U)he has no portion or inheritance with you. 13 (V)Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place that you see, 14 but at (W)the place that the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.
15 “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, as much as you desire, (X)according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. (Y)The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the deer. 16 (Z)Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth like water. 17 You may not eat within your towns (AA)the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present, 18 but (AB)you shall eat them before the Lord your God in (AC)the place that the Lord your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And (AD)you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake. 19 (AE)Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.
20 “When the Lord your God (AF)enlarges your territory, (AG)as he has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you crave meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire. 21 If (AH)the place that the Lord your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, (AI)then you may kill any of your herd or your flock, which the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your towns whenever you desire. 22 Just (AJ)as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. (AK)The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. 23 (AL)Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, (AM)for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, (AN)that all may go well with you and with your children after you, (AO)when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord. 26 But the (AP)holy things that are due from you, and (AQ)your vow offerings, you shall take, and you shall go to (AR)the place that the Lord will choose, 27 and (AS)offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but the flesh you may eat. 28 Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, (AT)that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
Warning Against Idolatry
29 “When (AU)the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, 30 take care (AV)that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ 31 (AW)You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every (AX)abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for (AY)they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
32 [b] “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. (AZ)You shall not add to it or take from it.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 12:5 Or name as its habitation
- Deuteronomy 12:32 Ch 13:1 in Hebrew
Deuteronomio 12
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
El único lugar de culto
12 »Estos son los estatutos y los decretos[a] que observarán cuidadosamente en la tierra que el Señor, el Dios de tus padres, te ha dado para que la poseas todos los días que ustedes vivan sobre su[b] suelo(A). 2 Destruirán completamente todos los lugares donde las naciones que desposeerán sirven a sus dioses: sobre los montes altos, sobre las colinas y debajo de todo árbol frondoso(B). 3 Y demolerán sus altares, quebrarán sus pilares sagrados, quemarán a fuego sus imágenes de Asera[c], derribarán las imágenes talladas de sus dioses(C) y borrarán su nombre de aquel lugar(D).
4 »No actuarán así con el Señor su Dios, 5 sino que buscarán al Señor en el lugar en que el Señor su Dios escoja de todas sus tribus, para poner allí Su nombre para Su morada, y allí ustedes irán(E). 6 Allí llevarán sus holocaustos, sus sacrificios, sus diezmos(F), la contribución[d] de su mano, sus ofrendas votivas[e], sus ofrendas voluntarias, y el primogénito de sus vacas y de sus ovejas. 7 Allí también ustedes y sus familias comerán en presencia del Señor su Dios, y se alegrarán en todas sus empresas en las cuales[f] el Señor su Dios los ha bendecido(G). 8 De ninguna manera harán lo que hacemos aquí hoy, que cada cual hace lo que le parece bien a sus propios ojos; 9 porque todavía no han llegado al lugar de reposo(H) y a la heredad que el Señor su Dios les da(I).
10 »Cuando crucen el Jordán y habiten en la tierra que el Señor su Dios les da en heredad, y Él les dé descanso de todos sus enemigos alrededor de ustedes para que habiten seguros(J), 11 entonces sucederá que al lugar que el Señor, su Dios, escoja para morada de Su nombre(K), allí traerán todo lo que yo les mando: sus holocaustos y sus sacrificios, sus diezmos y la ofrenda alzada de su mano, y todo lo más selecto de sus ofrendas votivas que han prometido al Señor. 12 Y se alegrarán en presencia del Señor su Dios, ustedes, sus hijos y sus hijas, sus siervos y sus siervas(L), y el levita que vive dentro de sus puertas(M), ya que no tiene parte ni heredad entre ustedes(N).
13 »Cuídate de no ofrecer tus holocaustos en cualquier lugar que veas, 14 sino en el lugar que el Señor escoja en una de tus tribus, allí ofrecerás tus holocaustos(O), y allí harás todo lo que yo te mando.
La carne y las ofrendas
15 »Sin embargo, podrás matar y comer carne dentro de todas tus puertas[g], conforme a tu deseo[h], según la bendición que el Señor tu Dios te ha dado(P); el inmundo y el limpio podrán comerla, como si fuera de gacela o de ciervo(Q). 16 Solo que ustedes no comerán la sangre(R); la derramarán sobre la tierra(S) como el agua.
17 »No te es permitido comer dentro de tus ciudades[i] el diezmo de tu grano, de tu vino nuevo o de tu aceite, ni de los primogénitos de tus vacas o de tus ovejas, ni ninguna de las ofrendas votivas[j](T) que prometas, ni tus ofrendas voluntarias, ni la ofrenda alzada de tu mano, 18 sino que lo comerás en presencia del Señor tu Dios(U) en el lugar que el Señor tu Dios escoja(V), tú, tu hijo y tu hija, tu siervo y tu sierva, y el levita que vive dentro de tus puertas[k](W); y te alegrarás en presencia del Señor tu Dios de toda la obra de tus manos[l](X). 19 Cuídate de no desamparar al levita mientras vivas en tu tierra(Y).
20 »Cuando el Señor tu Dios haya extendido tus fronteras como te ha prometido(Z), y tú digas: “Comeré carne”, porque deseas[m] comer carne, entonces podrás comer carne, toda la que desees[n]. 21 Si el lugar que el Señor tu Dios escoge para poner Su nombre está muy lejos de ti, entonces podrás matar de tus vacas y de tus ovejas que el Señor te ha dado, como te he ordenado, y podrás comer dentro de tus puertas[o] todo lo que desees[p]. 22 Tal como se come la gacela y el ciervo, así la podrás comer; el inmundo y el limpio podrán comer de ella. 23 Solo cuídate de no comer la sangre(AA), porque la sangre es la vida[q], y no comerás la vida[r] con la carne. 24 No la comerás; la derramarás sobre la tierra como el agua. 25 No la comerás, para que te vaya bien a ti y a tus hijos después de ti(AB), porque estarás haciendo lo que es justo delante del Señor(AC).
26 »Solamente las cosas sagradas que tengas y tus ofrendas votivas[s](AD), las tomarás e irás al lugar que el Señor escoja. 27 Ofrecerás tus holocaustos, la carne y la sangre, sobre el altar del Señor tu Dios(AE); y la sangre de tus sacrificios será derramada sobre el altar del Señor tu Dios, y podrás comer la carne(AF). 28 Escucha con cuidado todas estas palabras que te mando, para que te vaya bien a ti y a tus hijos después de ti para siempre(AG), porque estarás haciendo lo que es bueno y justo delante del Señor tu Dios.
Advertencia contra la idolatría
29 »Cuando el Señor tu Dios haya destruido delante de ti las naciones que vas a desposeer(AH), y las hayas desposeído y habites en su tierra, 30 cuídate de no caer en una trampa imitándolas[t], después que hayan sido destruidas delante de ti, y de no buscar[u] sus dioses, diciendo: “¿Cómo servían estas naciones a sus dioses para que también yo haga lo mismo?”. 31 No procederás así para con el Señor tu Dios, porque toda acción abominable que el Señor odia(AI), ellos la han hecho en honor de[v] sus dioses; porque aun a sus hijos y a sus hijas queman en el fuego en honor a sus dioses(AJ).
32 »[w]Cuidarás de hacer todo lo que te mando(AK); nada le añadirás ni le quitarás(AL).
Footnotes
- 12:1 O juicios.
- 12:1 Lit. el.
- 12:3 I.e. símbolos de madera de una deidad femenina.
- 12:6 Lit. ofrenda alzada.
- 12:6 Lit. de sus votos.
- 12:7 Lit. todo el extender de su mano en el cual.
- 12:15 Lit. tus ciudades.
- 12:15 Lit. en todo deseo de tu alma.
- 12:17 Lit. puertas.
- 12:17 Lit. los votos.
- 12:18 Lit. de tus ciudades.
- 12:18 Lit. en lo que alcance tu mano.
- 12:20 Lit. tu alma desea.
- 12:20 Lit. en todo deseo de tu alma.
- 12:21 Lit. de tus ciudades.
- 12:21 Lit. en todo deseo de tu alma.
- 12:23 Lit. el alma.
- 12:23 Lit. el alma.
- 12:26 Lit. de tus votos.
- 12:30 Lit. tras ellas.
- 12:30 O inquirir acerca de.
- 12:31 O para con.
- 12:32 En el texto heb. cap. 13:1.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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