Leviticus 1

1 And the Lord called unto Moses, and spoke unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, 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 unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any one of you wish to bring an offering unto the Lord: of the cattle, either of the herds, or of the flocks, shall ye bring your offering.

“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 burnt-sacrifice of the herds, then shall he offer a male without blemish: unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation shall he bring it, that it may be favorably received for him before 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 lay his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

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 kill the young steer before the Lord: and the sons of Aaron the priests shall bring near the blood, and they shall sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

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 he shall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into its 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 the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire;

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

8 And the sons of Aaron the priests shall lay in order the parts, the head, and the fat, upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar;

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

9 But its inwards and its legs shall he wash in water; and the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, as a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto 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 his offering be of the flocks, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt-sacrifice: then shall he offer a male without blemish as the same.

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

11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar, northward, before the Lord; and the sons of Aaron the priests shall sprinkle its blood 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 he shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat; and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar;

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 inwards and the legs shall he wash with water; and the priest shall bring near the whole, and burn it upon the altar; it is a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto 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 And if of fowls be the burnt-sacrifice for his offering to the Lord: then shall he bring his offering of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons.

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

15 And the priest shall bring it near unto the altar, and pinch off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out on the wall 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 And he shall remove its crop with its feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, at the place of the ashes.

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 cleave it by its wings, but shall not divide it asunder; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire: it is a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto 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.’