(A)But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and you shall come there. You shall bring there your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, (B)your tithes, the [a]contribution of your hand, your vowed offerings, your [b]voluntary offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. There you and your households shall eat before the Lord your God, and (C)rejoice in all [c]your undertakings in which the Lord your God has blessed you.

“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, (D)everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes; for you have not as yet come to (E)the resting place and the (F)inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you. 10 When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and (G)He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security, 11 (H)then it shall come about that the place in which the Lord your God will choose for His name to dwell, there you shall bring everything that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the [d]contribution of your hand, and all your choice vowed offerings which you will vow to the Lord. 12 And you shall (I)rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, and the (J)Levite who is within your gates, since (K)he has no portion or inheritance with you.

13 (L)Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in any cultic place that you see, 14 but only in the place which the Lord chooses in one of your tribes: there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do everything that I command you.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 12:6 Or uplifted offering
  2. Deuteronomy 12:6 Or freewill offerings
  3. Deuteronomy 12:7 Lit the putting forth of your hand
  4. Deuteronomy 12:11 Or uplifted offering

Rather, you must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored. There you will bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, your offerings to fulfill a vow, your voluntary offerings, and your offerings of the firstborn animals of your herds and flocks. There you and your families will feast in the presence of the Lord your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the Lord your God has blessed you.

“Your pattern of worship will change. Today all of you are doing as you please, because you have not yet arrived at the place of rest, the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession. 10 But you will soon cross the Jordan River and live in the land the Lord your God is giving you. When he gives you rest from all your enemies and you’re living safely in the land, 11 you must bring everything I command you—your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, and your offerings to fulfill a vow—to the designated place of worship, the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored.

12 “You must celebrate there in the presence of the Lord your God with your sons and daughters and all your servants. And remember to include the Levites who live in your towns, for they will receive no allotment of land among you. 13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. 14 You may do so only at the place the Lord will choose within one of your tribal territories. There you must offer your burnt offerings and do everything I command you.

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