Leviticus 1

1 Then the Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tabernacle of the testimony, saying:

While Moses/I was [standing near the entrance] to the Sacred Tent, Yahweh called to him/me from inside the tent. He said to Moses/me,

2 Speak to the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: The man among you who will offer to the Lord a sacrifice from the cattle, that is, an offering of victims of oxen or sheep:

“Tell this to the Israeli people: ‘When any of you brings an offering to Yahweh, bring one of your sheep or goats or cattle.

3 if his offering will be a holocaust, as well as from the herd, he shall offer an immaculate male at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, to make himself pleasing to the Lord.

‘If what you are offering is a bull that will be completely burned [on the altar], it must not have any defects. You must take it to the entrance to the Sacred Tent, in order that it will be acceptable to Yahweh.

4 And he shall place his hand on the head of the sacrifice, and so it shall be acceptable and effective, in its expiation.

You must lay your hands on the head of the bull. When you do that, Yahweh will accept [its death in your place] to forgive/pardon you for the sins that you have committed.

5 And he shall immolate the calf in the sight of the Lord. And the priests, the sons of Aaron, shall offer its blood, pouring it all around the altar, which is before the door of the tabernacle.

You must slaughter the bull in front of Yahweh. Then Aaron’s sons, who are priests, will bring the blood and sprinkle it against all sides of the altar near the entrance to the Sacred Tent.

6 And having pulled away the skin of the victim, they shall cut up the joints into pieces,

You must remove the skin of the animal and cut the animal into pieces. You must wash the inner parts and the legs of the bull.

7 and they shall toss fire under the altar, having arranged beforehand a stack of wood.

Then Aaron’s sons will put wood on the altar and light a fire.

8 And they shall lay the parts which are cut up in order upon it: namely, the head, and all the things that adjoin to the liver,

Then they will arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood.

9 the intestines and feet having been washed with water. And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a holocaust and as a sweet odor to the Lord.

Then one of the priests will completely burn all of it on the altar. And the aroma will be pleasing to Yahweh.

10 But if the offering is from the flocks, a holocaust either of sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish.

‘If you are offering a sheep or a goat, it must be a male without any defect.

11 And he shall immolate it at the side of the altar which looks out toward the north, in the sight of the Lord. Yet truly, the sons of Aaron shall pour its blood upon the altar all around.

You must slaughter it in front of Yahweh, on the north side of the altar, [and drain all the blood into a bowl]. Then Aaron’s sons will sprinkle the blood against all sides of the altar.

12 And they shall divide the limbs, the head, and everything that adjoins to the liver. And they shall place them on the wood, under which the fire is to be thrown.

You must cut the animal into pieces. You must wash the inner parts and the legs of the animal. Then the priests will arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood.

13 Yet truly, the intestines and the feet they shall wash with water. And the priest, having offered everything, shall burn it upon the altar as a holocaust and as a most sweet odor to the Lord.

Then one of the priests will take all of it and completely burn all of it on the altar. And the aroma as it burns will be pleasing to Yahweh.

14 But if the oblation of a holocaust to the Lord is of birds, either of turtledoves, or young pigeons,

‘If what you are offering to Yahweh is a bird, you must offer a dove or a young pigeon.

15 the priest shall offer it at the altar: and twisting back the neck with the head, and also rupturing the place of the wound, he shall make the blood run down over the edge of the altar.

The priest will take it to the altar and wring/twist off its head. Then he will burn the head on the altar. He will drain out the bird’s blood onto the side of the altar.

16 Yet truly, the craw of the throat and the feathers he shall cast near the altar at the eastern section, in the place where the ashes are usually poured out.

Then he will remove the bird’s (craw/food-grinding pouch) and what is inside it, and throw it on the east side of the altar, where the ashes are thrown.

17 And he shall break its wing joints, but he shall neither cut, nor divide it with metal, and he shall burn it upon the altar, placing fire under the wood. It is a holocaust and an oblation of a most sweet odor to the Lord.

Then he will grasp the bird’s wings and partially tear the bird open. Then he will burn it completely in the fire on the altar. And the aroma will be pleasing to Yahweh.’