15 (A)However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, [a]whatever you desire, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as (B)the gazelle and the deer. 16 (C)Only you shall not eat the blood; (D)you are to pour it out on the ground like water. 17 (E)You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, new wine, or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your vowed offerings which you vow, or your [b]voluntary offerings, or the [c]contribution of your hand. 18 But (F)you shall eat them before the Lord your God in (G)the place which the Lord your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female slaves, and the (H)Levite who is within your gates; and you shall (I)rejoice before the Lord your God in all [d]your undertakings. 19 (J)Be careful that you do not abandon the Levite [e]as long as you live in your land.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:15 Lit in every desire of your soul
  2. Deuteronomy 12:17 Or freewill offerings
  3. Deuteronomy 12:17 Or uplifted offering
  4. Deuteronomy 12:18 Lit the putting forth of your hand
  5. Deuteronomy 12:19 Lit all your days upon your land

15 “But whenever you desire[a] you may slaughter, and you may eat meat according to the blessing of Yahweh your God that he has given to you in all of your towns;[b] the unclean and the clean may eat it just as they would the gazelle and as the deer. 16 Only the blood you must not eat, but on the ground you must pour it like water. 17 You are not allowed to eat in your towns[c] the tithe of your grain and your wine and your olive oil and the firstborn of your herd and your flock and all of your votive gifts that you vowed and your freewill offering and your donations.[d] 18 But only before[e] Yahweh your God you shall eat it, at the place that Yahweh your God will choose,[f] you and your son and your daughter and your slave and your slave woman and the Levite who is in your towns,[g] and you must rejoice before[h] your God in all your undertakings.[i] 19 Take care[j] so that you do not neglect the Levite all of your days on your land.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:15 Literally “in all the wanting of your soul/inner self”
  2. Deuteronomy 12:15 Literally “gates”
  3. Deuteronomy 12:17 Literally “gates”
  4. Deuteronomy 12:17 Literally “the contribution of your hand”
  5. Deuteronomy 12:18 Literally “before the face of”
  6. Deuteronomy 12:18 Hebrew “choose it”
  7. Deuteronomy 12:18 Literally “gate”
  8. Deuteronomy 12:18 Literally “before the face of”
  9. Deuteronomy 12:18 Literally “in all of the sending of your hand”
  10. Deuteronomy 12:19 Literally “Watch for yourself”