Chapter 12

1 These are the statutes and the laws which you shall endeavour to keep in the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you for your possession, all the days that you shall dwell in that land.

2 Destroy all the places where the nations which you possess have served their gods, on high mountains and hills, and under every branching tree;

3 And you shall break down their altars, and break down their pillars, and burn their groves with fire, and break the images of their gods, and destroy their name from that place.

4 Ye shall not do these things for the Lord your God;

5 but to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes, that his name may dwell there, turn and come there,

6 And thither ye shall offer your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the offerings of your hands, and your vows, and your voluntary offerings, and the firstlings of your herds, and your flocks.

7 and ye shall eat there before the LORD your God, and ye and your families shall rejoice in all that hath been done by your hands, wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

8 There you must not do everything as we do here now, every one that seems right to him;

9 for you have not yet entered into the place of rest, and into the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you.

10 But when you have passed over the Jordan, and have settled in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, and when he has given you rest from all your enemies that are round about you, and you have lived in safety,

11 then whatever place the LORD your God chooses to dwell his name there, there you shall bring all that I command you [today]: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the lifting up of your hands, and all that you have chosen according to your vows, which you have promised to the LORD.

12 And rejoice in the sight of the LORD your God, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your male and female servants, and the Levite who is in the midst of your gates, for he has no portion or inheritance with you.

13 Take heed to offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;