Deuteronomy 12:5-14

Expanded Bible

⁵ but look for the place the Lord your God will choose—·a place among your tribes where he is to be worshiped [^Las his dwelling where he will place his name]. Go there, ⁶ and bring to that place your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and sacrifices; bring ·a tenth of what you gain [^Tyour tithes] and your special gifts; bring what you have ·promised [vowed] and the special gifts you want to give the Lord, and bring the first animals born to your herds and flocks.

⁷ There you and your families will eat in the presence of the Lord, and you will enjoy all ·the good things for which you have worked [your undertakings; ^Lall that is sent out from your hand], because the Lord your God has blessed you.

⁸ Do not ·worship [act] the way we have been ·doing [acting] today, each person doing what ·he thinks is right [^Lis right/virtuous in his own eyes]. ⁹ You have not yet come to a resting place, to the ·land [^Linheritance] the Lord your God will give you as your own. ¹⁰ But soon you will cross the Jordan River to live in the land the Lord your God is ·giving you as your own [^Lcausing you to inherit], where he will give you rest from all your enemies and you will live in safety [2 Sam. 7:1; ^CDavid would achieve rest from enemies; Solomon would build the temple in an era of peace]. ¹¹ Then the Lord your God will choose a place where he ·is to be worshiped [^Lwill cause his name to dwell; ^CZion, where the Temple would be built]. To that place you must bring everything I ·tell [command] you: your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and sacrifices, your ·offerings of a tenth of what you gain [^Ttithes], your special gifts, and all your best things you ·promised [vowed] to the Lord. ¹² There rejoice before the Lord your God. Everyone should rejoice: you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites ·from your towns [^Lin your gates] who have no ·land [allotment] of their own. ¹³ Be careful that you don’t sacrifice your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] just anywhere you ·please [^Lsee]. ¹⁴ Offer them only in the place the Lord will choose [^CZion; v. 11]. He will choose a place in one of your tribes, and there you must do everything I am commanding you.