Deuteronomy 12

These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

These are the rules and decisions you must follow in the land that the Lord, your ancestors' God, has given you to own, for as long as you live on this earth.

Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

Eradicate every place where the nations you conquer worshiped their gods, be it on towering mountains, gentle hills, or beneath verdant trees.

And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

With passion, tear down their altars, shatter their monuments, and set their sacred trees ablaze. Cut down the idols of their gods and erase their names from that place.

Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.

Never worship your God the way these nations worship their gods.

But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

Seek the special place chosen by God from all your communities, where He has decided to make His presence known. Go there, that's where you'll find Him.

And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

Bring your offerings, sacrifices, and tithes there. Give your heartfelt vows, voluntary gifts, and the firstborn of your livestock.

And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

Enjoy your meal in the presence of God, celebrate every task you accomplish with your family, acknowledging the blessings God has given you.

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

Don't just follow what we do here today, where everyone does what they think is right.

For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.

You haven't yet reached the peace and blessings that God has promised you.

But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;

When you cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord has given you, He will grant you peace from all your enemies, ensuring your safety.

Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

God will choose a special place for His presence to reside. Bring all that He asks of you to this place - your offerings, sacrifices, tithes, and heartfelt vows made to Him.

And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.

Celebrate joyfully in the presence of God, together with your children, your servants, and the Levites among you, who don't own or inherit anything from you.

Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:

Be mindful and careful not to make your sacrifices just anywhere you see fit.

But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

In the special location that God selects from your communities, that's where you should present your sacrifices. There, you should follow all of God's instructions.

Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.

Feel free to enjoy meat anywhere you wish, following your cravings, as it's a blessing from God. Both the pure and impure can partake, just like eating a deer or stag.

Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

Never consume the lifeblood; instead, return it to the earth, like water.

Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

Don't eat your tithes of crops, wine, or oil, or the firstborn of your livestock, in your own towns. The same goes for your pledged gifts, voluntary offerings, and hand-raised offerings.

But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

Instead, eat them in the presence of God, in the place He chooses. Share this joy with your family, your servants, and the Levites who live in your towns. Celebrate all your accomplishments with God.

Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

Be mindful and caring, never neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

When God enlarges your territory, as He promised, and you crave meat and say, "I'd like some meat," you can eat to your heart's content.

If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

If God's chosen place feels too distant, then you may slaughter from your own livestock, a gift from God, as instructed. Enjoy these blessings within your own home, satisfying your heart's desires.

Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.

Just as both the deer and the antelope are consumed, so too shall you partake in their feast. Regardless of purity or impurity, everyone will share in this meal equally.

Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

Just remember, don't consume the blood, for it represents life. You shouldn't mix life with your meal.

Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.

Do not consume it; instead, let it flow back to the earth like water.

Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

Don't consume it; for your own good and your children's future, especially when you're doing what's right in God's eyes.

Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:

Take only your sacred belongings and promises, and journey to the place that God has chosen for you.

And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.

Devote your sacrifices, both flesh and blood, to the altar of your God. Let the blood of your offerings flow on His altar, and partake in the flesh.

Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.

Listen closely and remember these teachings I give you, so that you and your children may lead a blessed life. Always strive to do what is good and right, as this pleases the Lord your God.

When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

When God clears the path for you, removing obstacles and nations that stand in your way, you'll conquer and settle in their lands.

Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

Be careful not to be trapped by their influence, even after they're gone. Don't be curious about their gods or how they worshipped them, and never think of doing the same.

Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Never worship your God the way they do, for they do for their gods every detestable thing the Lord hates. They even burn their own sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Follow my instructions exactly as I give them to you. Don't add anything or take anything away.