< Leviticus 17 >

1 The Lord told Moses,
And Yhwh spake unto Moses, saying,
2 “Tell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites that this is what the Lord commands:
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which Yhwh hath commanded, saying,
3 Any Israelite who kills a bull, a lamb, or a goat, whether inside the camp or outside of it,
What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord there, that person shall be held guilty of illegal killing. They have shed blood and must be expelled from their people.
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto Yhwh before the tabernacle of Yhwh; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5 This is why the Israelites have to bring to the Lord the sacrifices they currently offer out in the fields. They must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord.
To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto Yhwh, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto Yhwh.
6 The priest will sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat to be accepted by the Lord.
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of Yhwh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto Yhwh.
7 They must not continue to offer their sacrifices to the goat devils with whom they have acted like prostitutes. This is a regulation for all time and for all future generations.
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8 Warn them that any Israelite or any foreigner living among them who offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice
And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 without bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord must be expelled from their people.
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto Yhwh; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10 I will disown any Israelite or any foreigner living among them who eats any blood and I will expel them from their people.
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11 Life is in the body's blood. I have given it to you so that by putting it on the altar your lives can be made right, for it is the lifeblood that makes people's lives right.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12 That's why I'm warning the Israelites: None of you is allowed to eat blood, and no foreigner living among you is allowed to eat blood.
Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13 Any Israelite or foreigner living among them who hunts and kills a wild animal or a bird which are allowed be eaten must drain the blood from its body and cover it with earth,
And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14 for life is in the body's blood. That's why I have warned the Israelites: You are not allowed to eat the blood of anything living, for life is in the body's blood. Anyone who eats it must be expelled.
For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
15 Anyone, Israelite or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or killed by wild animals must wash their clothes and wash with water, and they will be unclean until the evening. Then they will be clean.
And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16 But if they don't wash their clothes and wash themselves with water, then they bear responsibility for their guilt.”
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

< Leviticus 17 >