Deuteronomy 12:13-28

13Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like.

14You may do so only at the place the Lord will choose within one of your tribal territories. There you must offer your burnt offerings and do everything I command you.

15“But you may butcher your animals and eat their meat in any town whenever you want. You may freely eat the animals with which the Lord your God blesses you. All of you, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you now eat gazelle and deer.

16But you must not consume the blood. You must pour it out on the ground like water.

17“But you may not eat your offerings in your hometown—neither the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, nor the firstborn of your flocks and herds, nor any offering to fulfill a vow, nor your voluntary offerings, nor your sacred offerings.

18You must eat these in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose. Eat them there with your children, your servants, and the Levites who live in your towns, celebrating in the presence of the Lord your God in all you do.

19And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

20“When the Lord your God expands your territory as he has promised, and you have the urge to eat meat, you may freely eat meat whenever you want.

21It might happen that the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—is a long way from your home. If so, you may butcher any of the cattle, sheep, or goats the Lord has given you, and you may freely eat the meat in your hometown, as I have commanded you.

22Anyone, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you do now with gazelle and deer.

23But never consume the blood, for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the lifeblood with the meat.

24Instead, pour out the blood on the ground like water.

25Do not consume the blood, so that all may go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what pleases the Lord.

26“Take your sacred gifts and your offerings given to fulfill a vow to the place the Lord chooses.

27You must offer the meat and blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your other sacrifices must be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God, but you may eat the meat.

28Be careful to obey all my commands, so that all will go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and pleasing to the Lord your God.