Leviticus 1

1 And 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 children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man among you that shall offer to the Lord a sacrifice of the cattle, that is, offering victims of oxen and 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 be a holocaust, and of the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish, at the door of the testimony, to make the Lord favourable to him:

‘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 put his hand upon the head of the victim, and it shall be acceptable, and help to 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 before the Lord, and the priests the sons of Aaron shall offer the blood thereof, pouring it round about 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 when they have flayed the victim, they shall cut 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 shall put fire on the altar, having before laid in order a pile of wood:

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

8 And they shall lay the parts that are cut out in order thereupon, to wit, the head, and all things that cleave to the liver,

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

9 The entrails and feet being washed with water: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar for a holocaust, and a sweet savour 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 And if the offering be of the hocks, a holocaust of sheep or of 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 that looketh to the north, before the Lord: but the sons of Aaron shall pour the blood thereof upon the altar round about:

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 joints, the head, and all that cleave to the liver: and shall lay them upon the wood, under which the fire is to be put:

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 But the entrails and the feet they shall wash with water. And the priest shall offer it all and burn it all upon the altar for a holocaust, and most sweet savour 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 be of birds, of turtles, or of 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, and breaking the place of the wound, he shall make the blood run down upon the brim 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 But the crop of the throat, and the feathers he shall cast beside the altar at the east side, in the place where the ashes are wont to be 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 the pinions thereof, and shall not cut, nor divide it with a knife, and shall burn it upon the altar, putting fire under the wood. It is a holocaust and oblation of most sweet savour 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.’