Read the Modern Pastor’s Version
Select a book and chapter to read the MPV in modern, pastor-shaped English. This view shows the reading edition of the text in paragraphs.
Currently viewing: Leviticus 17 · MPV reading edition
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the people of Israel. I have given you a command that must be obeyed.
If anyone from the house of Israel kills an ox, lamb, or goat anywhere within the camp or outside it, they must bring it to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for him to present before the Lord as a sacrifice. Anyone who offers a burnt offering or sacrifices without bringing them to the door of the tent of meeting will be cut off from their people.
To ensure that the Israelites can offer their sacrifices to the Lord, they must bring them to the priest at the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation, where he will present them as peace offerings before the Lord. The priest is to sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the tent's entrance and burn the fat as a fragrant offering.
The Israelites must no longer offer their sacrifices to idols after which they have been prostituting themselves. This rule applies for all time, for every generation.
Anyone from the house of Israel or any stranger living among them who wants to offer a burnt offering or sacrifice must bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to present before the Lord. If anyone brings an animal to be sacrificed but fails to bring it to the tabernacle's entrance to offer it to the Lord, they will be cut off from their people.
I have forbidden any Israelite or foreigner living among them to eat blood. I have given the life of the flesh in its blood, and it is by the blood that atonement is made for one's soul. The blood makes atonement because it represents life.
To all of you, I said: No one among you shall eat blood, neither shall any foreigner who lives among you eat blood. If someone hunts an animal that can be eaten, they must pour out its blood and cover it with dust, for the life of all flesh is in its blood.
You are not to eat the blood of any kind of flesh because the life of all flesh is in its blood. Anyone eating such will be cut off from their people. If someone eats what dies of itself or is torn by animals, they must wash their clothes and bathe in water before evening, then they will be clean.
But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe their skin, they shall bear the consequences of their actions.