16. But 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.
18. You 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.
19. And 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.
21. It 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.
22. Anyone, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you do now with gazelle and deer.
23. But never consume the blood, for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the lifeblood with the meat.
24. Instead, pour out the blood on the ground like water.
25. Do 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.