20 “When the Lord your God (A)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 (B)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, (C)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, (D)that it may go well with you and your children after you, (E)when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord. 26 Only the (F)holy things which you have, and your vowed offerings, you shall take and go to the place which the Lord chooses. 27 And (G)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, (H)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.

Read full chapter

20 “When Yahweh your God enlarges your territory just as he has promised[a] to you, and you say ‘I want to eat some meat,’ because you want it,[b] whenever you desire[c] you may eat meat. 21 If the place that[d] Yahweh your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, and you slaughter any of your herd and any of your flock that Yahweh has given to you just as I have commanded you, then you may eat whenever you desire in your towns.[e] 22 Surely just as the gazelle and the deer is eaten, so both the unclean and the clean together may eat it. 23 Only, be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the meat. 24 You shall not eat it, but on the ground you shall pour it out like water. 25 You shall not eat it, so that it will go well[f] for you and your children after you, because then you will be doing what is[g] right in the eyes of Yahweh. 26 Only your holy objects that are yours[h] and your votive gifts you must carry and you must bring to the place that Yahweh will choose. 27 And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood on the altar of Yahweh your God, and the blood of your sacrifices you shall pour out on the altar of Yahweh your God, but the meat you may eat. 28 Be careful to obey[i] all these things that I am commanding you, so that it will go well[j] for you and for your children after you forever,[k] because then you will be doing what is[l] good and right[m] in the eyes of Yahweh your God.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:20 Literally “spoken”
  2. Deuteronomy 12:20 Literally “because your soul/inner self desires it”
  3. Deuteronomy 12:20 Literally “at/in all the wanting of your soul/inner self”
  4. Deuteronomy 12:21 Or “where”
  5. Deuteronomy 12:21 Literally “gates”
  6. Deuteronomy 12:25 Literally “it/he is good”
  7. Deuteronomy 12:25 Hebrew “the”
  8. Deuteronomy 12:26 Literally “that are for you”
  9. Deuteronomy 12:28 Literally “Watch carefully and listen”
  10. Deuteronomy 12:28 Literally “he/it is good”
  11. Deuteronomy 12:28 Literally “until ever”
  12. Deuteronomy 12:28 Hebrew “the”
  13. Deuteronomy 12:28 Hebrew “the right”