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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Deuteronomy 12 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/deuteronomy/12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/deuteronomy/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > Deuteronomy 12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../deuteronomy/11.htm" title="Deuteronomy 11">◄</a> Deuteronomy 12 <a href="../deuteronomy/13.htm" title="Deuteronomy 13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/deuteronomy/12.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Destroying Altars to False Gods</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>“These are the statutes and ordinances that you must carefully observe in the land that the LORD God of your ancestors has given you to possess every day that you live on the earth. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Be sure you destroy there all the places where the nations that you’re going to dispossess serve their gods—upon the high mountains and hills and under every leafy tree. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Tear down their altars, cut down their sacred poles,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:3 Lit. their Ashram; i.e. cultic pillars">a</a></span> and burn them. Cut down the carved images of their gods to erase their memory<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:3 Lit. to destroy their names">b</a></span> from that place.”</p> <p class="heading">Sacrifice at the Central Sanctuary</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>“You must not act like this with respect to the LORD your God. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Instead, you must seek to enter only the place that the LORD your God will choose among your tribes. There he will establish his name and live. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Bring your burnt offerings there, along with your sacrifices, your tithes, your hand-carried gifts, your offerings in fulfillment of promises, your freely given offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then you and your household will eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice with all the works of your hand with which he<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:7 Lit. the LORD">c</a></span> blessed you.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>“You must not act as we have been doing here today, where everyone acts as they see fit, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>for you haven’t arrived yet to your allotted place<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:9 Lit. allotted resting place and inheritance">d</a></span> that the LORD your God is about to give you. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>But after you have crossed the Jordan River and settled in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and after you have received relief from the enemies around you and are living securely, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>then bring to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling place—where he will establish his name—everything that I’m commanding you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your hand-carried gifts, and all your best offerings in fulfillment of promises that you pledged to the LORD.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“Rejoice in the presence of the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the descendant of Levi who is in your city—for there is no territorial allotment<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:12 Lit. no portion and possession">e</a></span> for him as you have. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Be careful not to offer burnt offerings at any location you happen to see<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:13 Lit. you see">f</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>instead of at the place the LORD will choose in one of the tribal areas. There you may offer burnt offerings, and there you may do everything that I’m commanding you.”</p> <p class="heading">Instructions Pertaining to Food</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“You may slaughter and eat as much meat as you desire,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:15 Lit. with all the desire of your soul">g</a></span> according to the blessing of the LORD your God, when he provides for you in all your cities.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:15 Lit. gates">h</a></span> Both ritually unqualified and qualified people<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:15 Lit. unclean and clean; and so throughout the book">i</a></span> may eat it as they would gazelle and deer. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Only, you must not consume the blood;<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:16 Cf. Acts 15:20, 29">j</a></span> instead, pour it out on the ground as you would water.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“You won’t be allowed to eat your tithe of grain, new wine, oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, your voluntary offerings that you pledged, your free-will offerings, and the works of your hands in your own cities. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>You’ll eat only in the presence of the LORD your God at the place that he<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:18 Lit. that the LORD your God">k</a></span> will choose—you, your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the descendant of Levi who is in your cities.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:18 Lit. gates">l</a></span> Rejoice in the presence of the LORD your God in everything you undertake.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:18 Lit. in every work of your hand">m</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Be careful not to forget the descendant of Levi while you live<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:19 Lit. all your days in the land">n</a></span> in the land. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>When the LORD your God enlarges your territory—just as he told you—and you say ‘I want to eat meat’ since you desire to eat it,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:20 Lit. meat">o</a></span> you may do so as much as you please.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:20 Lit. may eat flesh with all the desire of your soul">p</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>“If the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish his name is distant from you, then you may slaughter from your herd and your flock what the LORD has provided for you, as he instructed you. You may consume them in your cities<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:21 Lit. gates">q</a></span> as much as you please. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>You may eat them, just as you would gazelle and deer. Ritually unqualified and qualified people may eat them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Only be sure to refrain from eating blood, because blood is the source of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:23 The Heb. lacks source of">r</a></span> life and you must not consume blood with the meat. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>You must not consume it; instead, pour it on the ground as you would water. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>You must not eat it, so that life will go well for you and for your children after you. Then you’ll do what is right in the eyes of the LORD.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>“You may carry and bring only your consecrated gifts and offerings in fulfillment of promises to the place that the LORD will choose. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>You must offer your burnt offerings, both the meat and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God. You must offer the blood by pouring it on the altar of the LORD your God while you consume the meat. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Be sure to observe all these words that I’m commanding you, in order that life may go well for you and your children after you forever, for this is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.”</p> <p class="heading">Don’t Become Ensnared</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>“When the LORD your God eliminates the nations that you are about to dispossess so you can live in their land, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>after they have been destroyed in your sight, be careful not to be ensnared as they were. Otherwise, you will seek their gods and ask yourselves, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.’ <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>You must not do the same to the LORD your God, because they practiced in the presence of their gods every sort of abomination that the LORD hates. Moreover, they sacrificed<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:31 Lit. they burned in fire">s</a></span> their sons and daughters to their gods. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/12-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span><span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="12:32 This v. is 13:1 in MT">t</a></span> Now as to everything I’m commanding you, you must be careful to observe it. Don’t add to or subtract from it.”</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 12:3 Lit. <i>their Ashram</i>; i.e. cultic pillars<br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 12:3 Lit. <i>to destroy their names</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 12:7 Lit. <i>the L</i>ORD<br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 12:9 Lit. <i>allotted resting place and inheritance</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 12:12 Lit. <i>no portion and possession</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 12:13 Lit. <i>you see</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 12:15 Lit. <i>with all the desire of your soul</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 12:15 Lit. <i>gates</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 12:15 Lit. <i>unclean and clean</i>; and so throughout the book<br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 12:16 Cf. Acts 15:20, 29<br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 12:18 Lit. <i>that the LORD your God</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 12:18 Lit. <i>gates</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 12:18 Lit. <i>in every work of your hand</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 12:19 Lit. <i>all your days in the land</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 12:20 Lit. <i>meat</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 12:20 Lit. <i>may eat flesh with all the desire of your soul</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 12:21 Lit. <i>gates</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 12:23 The Heb. lacks <i>source of</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 12:31 Lit. <i>they burned in fire</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 12:32 This v. is 13:1 in MT<br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../deuteronomy/11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../deuteronomy/13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/deuteronomy/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></td></tr></table></div><br /><br /> </div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/botmenubhnm2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>