Leviticus 1

1 Then called he unto Moses, —and Yahweh spake unto him, out of the tent of meeting, 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 thou unto the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say unto them When any man, would bring near from among you an oblation, unto Yahweh, from the beasts, from the herd or from the flock, shall ye bring near your oblation.

“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 an ascending-sacrifice, be his oblation—of the herd, a male without defect, shall he bring near, —unto the entrance of the tent of meeting, shall he bring it, for its acceptance, before Yahweh.

‘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 Then shall he lean his hand, upon the head of the ascending-sacrifice, —and it shall be accepted for him to put a propitiatory covering over 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 slay the young bullock before Yahweh, —and the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall bring near the blood, and shall dash the blood against the altar round about, [even the altar] that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

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 Then shall he flay the ascending-sacrifice, —and cut it up 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 place fire upon the altar, —and arrange wood, 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 arrange the pieces, the head and the fat, —upon the wood, that is on the fire, that is on 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 they bathe with water, —then shall the priest make, of the whole, a perfume at the altar, an ascending-sacrifice an altar-flame of a satisfying odour unto Yahweh.

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 of the flock, be his oblation, —of the sheep or of the goats, for an ascending-sacrifice, a male without defect, shall he bring near.

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

11 And he shall slay it on the side of the altar northward, before Yahweh, —and the sons of Aaron the priests shall dash its blood against 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 up into its pieces, and its head, and its fat, —and the priest shall arrange them upon the wood that is on the fire, that is on 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 bathe in water, —then shall the priest bring near the whole and make a perfume at the altar, an ascending-sacrifice, it is an altar-flame of a satisfying odour, unto Yahweh.

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, of birds, be the ascending-sacrifice of his oblation unto Yahweh, then shall he bring near of the turtle-doves or of the young pigeons, his oblation.

‘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 shall nip off its head, and make a perfume at the altar, —and its blood shall be drained out upon 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 Then shall he take away its crop with its plumage, —and cast it beside the altar, eastward, into the place of fat 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 in its wings—he shall not divide it asunder, so shall the priest make a perfume therewith, at the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire, —an ascending-sacrifice, it is, an altar-flame of a satisfying odour, unto Yahweh.

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.’