Deuteronomy 12 דְּבָרִים פרק י״ב

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Deuteronomy 12 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אֵלֶּהtheseהַחֻקִּיםthe statutesוְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִיםand the judgmentsאֲשֶׁרwhichתִּשְׁמְרוּןyou will keepלַעֲשׂוֹתto doבָּאָרֶץin the landאֲשֶׁרwhichנָתַןgaveיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofאֲבֹתֶיךָyour fathersלְךָfor youלְרִשְׁתָּהּto possess itכׇּל־הַיָּמִיםall the daysאֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּםwhich you areחַיִּיםlivingעַל־הָאֲדָמָה׃upon the ground

   These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

2. 2

   אַבֵּדutterlyתְּאַבְּדוּןyou will destroyאֶת־כׇּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹתall the placesאֲשֶׁרwhichעָבְדוּ־שָׁםthey served thereהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתֶּםyou areיֹרְשִׁיםdispossessingאֹתָםthemאֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godsעַל־הֶהָרִיםupon the mountainsהָרָמִיםthe highוְעַל־הַגְּבָעוֹתand upon the hillsוְתַחַתand underכׇּל־עֵץevery treeרַעֲנָן׃luxuriant

   Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

3. 3

   וְנִתַּצְתֶּםand you will break downאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָםtheir altarsוְשִׁבַּרְתֶּםand you will shatterאֶת־מַצֵּבֹתָםtheir sacred pillarsוַאֲשֵׁרֵיהֶםand their Asherah polesתִּשְׂרְפוּןyou will burnבָּאֵשׁby fireוּפְסִילֵיand the graven images ofאֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godsתְּגַדֵּעוּןyou will cut downוְאִבַּדְתֶּםand you will destroyאֶת־שְׁמָםtheir nameמִן־הַמָּקוֹםfrom the placeהַהוּא׃that

   And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

4. 4

   לֹא־תַעֲשׂוּןnot you shall makeכֵּןthusלַיהֹוָהto the LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃your God

   Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.

5. 5

   כִּיbutאִם־אֶל־הַמָּקוֹםonly to the placeאֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַרthat will selectיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godמִכׇּל־שִׁבְטֵיכֶםfrom all your tribesלָשׂוּםto putאֶת־שְׁמוֹHis nameשָׁםthereלְשִׁכְנוֹto His habitationתִדְרְשׁוּyou shall seekוּבָאתָand you shall comeשָּׁמָּה׃there

   But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

6. 6

   וַהֲבֵאתֶםand you shall bringשָׁמָּהthereעֹלֹתֵיכֶםyour burnt offeringsוְזִבְחֵיכֶםand your sacrificesוְאֵתandמַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶםyour tithesוְאֵתandתְּרוּמַתoffering ofיֶדְכֶםyour handוְנִדְרֵיכֶםand your votive offeringsוְנִדְבֹתֵיכֶםand your freewill offeringsוּבְכֹרֹתand the firstborn ofבְּקַרְכֶםyour herdsוְצֹאנְכֶם׃and your flocks

   And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

7. 7

   וַאֲכַלְתֶּם־שָׁםand you shall eat thereלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godוּשְׂמַחְתֶּםand you will rejoiceבְּכֹלin allמִשְׁלַחundertaking ofיֶדְכֶםyour handאַתֶּםyouוּבָתֵּיכֶםand your householdsאֲשֶׁרwhichבֵּרַכְךָhas blessed youיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָ׃your God

   And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

8. 8

   לֹאnotתַעֲשׂוּןyou shall makeכְּכֹלaccording to allאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲנַחְנוּweעֹשִׂיםdoingפֹּהhereהַיּוֹםthe dayאִישׁeachכׇּל־הַיָּשָׁרall that is rightבְּעֵינָיו׃in his eyes

   Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

9. 9

   כִּיforלֹא־בָאתֶםnot you have comeעַד־עָתָּהas yetאֶל־הַמְּנוּחָהto the restוְאֶל־הַנַּחֲלָהand to the inheritanceאֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָהwhich the LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןgivingלָךְ׃to you

   For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.

10. 10

    וַעֲבַרְתֶּםand you will pass overאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanוִישַׁבְתֶּםand you shall dwellבָּאָרֶץin the landאֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָהwhich the LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godמַנְחִילis giving as an inheritanceאֶתְכֶםyouוְהֵנִיחַand he will give restלָכֶםto youמִכׇּל־אֹיְבֵיכֶםfrom all your enemiesמִסָּבִיבall aroundוִישַׁבְתֶּם־בֶּטַח׃and you shall dwell in safety

    But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;

11. 11

    וְהָיָהand beהַמָּקוֹםthe placeאֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַרthat will selectיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godבּוֹitלְשַׁכֵּןto cause to dwellשְׁמוֹHis nameשָׁםthereשָׁמָּהthereתָבִיאוּyou will bringאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרall thatאָנֹכִיIמְצַוֶּהcommandאֶתְכֶםyouעוֹלֹתֵיכֶםyour burnt offeringsוְזִבְחֵיכֶםand your sacrificesמַעְשְׂרֹתֵיכֶםyour tithesוּתְרֻמַתand the offering ofיֶדְכֶםyour handוְכֹלand allמִבְחַרthe choicest ofנִדְרֵיכֶםyour vowsאֲשֶׁרwhichתִּדְּרוּyou will vowלַיהֹוָה׃to the LORD

    Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

12. 12

    וּשְׂמַחְתֶּםand you will rejoiceלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godאַתֶּםyouוּבְנֵיכֶםand your sonsוּבְנֹתֵיכֶםand your daughtersוְעַבְדֵיכֶםand your male servantsוְאַמְהֹתֵיכֶםand your female servantsוְהַלֵּוִיand the Leviteאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶםin your gatesכִּיforאֵיןthere is noלוֹto himחֵלֶקpartוְנַחֲלָהand inheritanceאִתְּכֶם׃with you

    And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.

13. 13

    הִשָּׁמֶרtake heedלְךָfor youפֶּן־תַּעֲלֶהlest you should offer upעֹלֹתֶיךָyour burnt offeringsבְּכׇל־מָקוֹםin every placeאֲשֶׁרwhichתִּרְאֶה׃you shall see

    Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:

14. 14

    כִּיbutאִם־בַּמָּקוֹםonly in the placeאֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַרthat will selectיְהֹוָהthe LORDבְּאַחַדin oneשְׁבָטֶיךָyour tribesשָׁםthereתַּעֲלֶהyou should offer upעֹלֹתֶיךָyour burnt offeringsוְשָׁםand thereתַּעֲשֶׂהyou makeכֹּלallאֲשֶׁרwhichאָנֹכִיIמְצַוֶּךָּ׃am commanding you

    But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

15. 15

    רַקonlyבְּכׇל־אַוַּתin all the desire ofנַפְשְׁךָyour soulתִּזְבַּחyou will slaughterוְאָכַלְתָּand you shall eatבָשָׂרfleshכְּבִרְכַּתaccording to the blessing ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֲשֶׁרwhichנָתַן־לְךָgave to youבְּכׇל־שְׁעָרֶיךָin all your gatesהַטָּמֵאthe uncleanוְהַטָּהוֹרand the cleanיֹאכְלֶנּוּhe will eat itכַּצְּבִיlike the deerוְכָאַיָּל׃and like the gazelle

    Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.

16. 16

    רַקonlyהַדָּםthe bloodלֹאnotתֹאכֵלוּyou shall eatעַל־הָאָרֶץupon the landתִּשְׁפְּכֶנּוּyou will pour out itכַּמָּיִם׃like the water

    Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

17. 17

    לֹא־תוּכַלnot canלֶאֱכֹלto eatבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָwithin your gatesמַעְשַׂרthe tithe ofדְּגָנְךָyour grainוְתִירֹשְׁךָand your new wineוְיִצְהָרֶךָand your fresh oilוּבְכֹרֹתand the firstborn ofבְּקָרְךָyour herdוְצֹאנֶךָand your flockוְכׇל־נְדָרֶיךָand all your votive offeringsאֲשֶׁרwhichתִּדֹּרyou will vowוְנִדְבֹתֶיךָand your freewill offeringsוּתְרוּמַתand the offering ofיָדֶךָ׃your hand

    Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

18. 18

    כִּיbutאִם־לִפְנֵיonly beforeיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godתֹּאכְלֶנּוּyou will eat itבַּמָּקוֹםin the placeאֲשֶׁרwhichיִבְחַרwill selectיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבּוֹitאַתָּהyouוּבִנְךָand your sonוּבִתֶּךָand your daughterוְעַבְדְּךָand your servantוַאֲמָתֶךָand your female servantוְהַלֵּוִיand the Leviteאֲשֶׁרwhichבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָwithin your gatesוְשָׂמַחְתָּand you will rejoiceלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבְּכֹלin allמִשְׁלַחundertaking ofיָדֶךָ׃your hand

    But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

19. 19

    הִשָּׁמֶרtake heedלְךָfor youפֶּן־תַּעֲזֹבlest you shall leaveאֶת־הַלֵּוִיthe Leviteכׇּל־יָמֶיךָall your daysעַל־אַדְמָתֶךָ׃upon your land

    Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

20. 20

    כִּי־יַרְחִיבwhen will enlargeיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֶת־גְּבֻלְךָyour borderכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּר־לָךְhe spoke to youוְאָמַרְתָּand sayאֹכְלָהI will eatבָשָׂרfleshכִּי־תְאַוֶּהbecause it will desireנַפְשְׁךָyour soulלֶאֱכֹלto eatבָּשָׂרthe fleshבְּכׇל־אַוַּתin all the desire ofנַפְשְׁךָyour soulתֹּאכַלyou will eatבָּשָׂר׃the flesh

    When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

21. 21

    כִּי־יִרְחַקif it will be too farמִמְּךָfrom youהַמָּקוֹםthe placeאֲשֶׁרwhichיִבְחַרwill selectיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלָשׂוּםto putשְׁמוֹHis nameשָׁםthereוְזָבַחְתָּand you will sacrificeמִבְּקָרְךָsome of your herdוּמִצֹּאנְךָand some of your flockאֲשֶׁרwhichנָתַןgaveיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְךָfor youכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוִּיתִךָI commanded youוְאָכַלְתָּand you shall eatבִּשְׁעָרֶיךָwithin your gatesבְּכֹלin allאַוַּתthe desire ofנַפְשֶׁךָ׃your soul

    If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

22. 22

    אַךְonlyכַּאֲשֶׁרasיֵאָכֵלis eatenאֶת־הַצְּבִיthe deerוְאֶת־הָאַיָּלand the gazelleכֵּןthusתֹּאכְלֶנּוּyou will eat itהַטָּמֵאthe uncleanוְהַטָּהוֹרand the cleanיַחְדָּוtogetherיֹאכְלֶנּוּ׃he will eat it

    Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.

23. 23

    רַקonlyחֲזַקbe strongלְבִלְתִּיto notאֲכֹלeatingהַדָּםthe bloodכִּיforהַדָּםthe bloodהוּאitהַנָּפֶשׁthe lifeוְלֹא־תֹאכַלand not you shall eatהַנֶּפֶשׁthe lifeעִם־הַבָּשָׂר׃with the flesh

    Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

24. 24

    לֹאnotתֹּאכְלֶנּוּyou will eat itעַל־הָאָרֶץupon the landתִּשְׁפְּכֶנּוּyou will pour out itכַּמָּיִם׃like the water

    Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.

25. 25

    לֹאnotתֹּאכְלֶנּוּyou will eat itלְמַעַןin order thatיִיטַבit shall be wellלְךָfor youוּלְבָנֶיךָand for your sonsאַחֲרֶיךָafter youכִּי־תַעֲשֶׂהwhen makeהַיָּשָׁרthe rightבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

26. 26

    רַקonlyקׇדָשֶׁיךָyour holy thingsאֲשֶׁר־יִהְיוּwhich shall beלְךָfor youוּנְדָרֶיךָand your votive offeringsתִּשָּׂאyou shall receiveוּבָאתָand you shall comeאֶל־הַמָּקוֹםunto the placeאֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַרthat will selectיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:

27. 27

    וְעָשִׂיתָand doעֹלֹתֶיךָyour burnt offeringsהַבָּשָׂרthe fleshוְהַדָּםand the bloodעַל־מִזְבַּחupon the altar ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godוְדַם־זְבָחֶיךָand blood of your sacrificesיִשָּׁפֵךְpoured out beעַל־מִזְבַּחupon the altar ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godוְהַבָּשָׂרand the fleshתֹּאכֵל׃you shall eat

    And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.

28. 28

    שְׁמֹרobserveוְשָׁמַעְתָּand hearאֵת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִיםall the wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֲשֶׁרwhichאָנֹכִיIמְצַוֶּךָּam commanding youלְמַעַןin order thatיִיטַבit shall be wellלְךָfor youוּלְבָנֶיךָand for your sonsאַחֲרֶיךָafter youעַד־עוֹלָםforeverכִּיwhenתַעֲשֶׂהmakeהַטּוֹבthe goodוְהַיָּשָׁרand the rightבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָ׃your God

    Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.

29. 29

    כִּי־יַכְרִיתwhen will cut offיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֶת־הַגּוֹיִםthe nationsאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתָּהyouבָא־שָׁמָּהcame thereלָרֶשֶׁתto possessאוֹתָםthemמִפָּנֶיךָfrom before youוְיָרַשְׁתָּand you will take possession ofאֹתָםthemוְיָשַׁבְתָּand you shall dwellבְּאַרְצָם׃in their land

    When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

30. 30

    הִשָּׁמֶרtake heedלְךָfor youפֶּן־תִּנָּקֵשׁlest you should be ensnaredאַחֲרֵיהֶםafter themאַחֲרֵיafterהִשָּׁמְדָםthey are destroyedמִפָּנֶיךָfrom before youוּפֶן־תִּדְרֹשׁand lest you should enquireלֵאלֹהֵיהֶםto their godsלֵאמֹרsayingאֵיכָהhowיַעַבְדוּdid serveהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶםtheir godsוְאֶעֱשֶׂה־כֵּןand do thusגַּם־אָנִי׃also I

    Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

31. 31

    לֹא־תַעֲשֶׂהnot makeכֵןthusלַיהֹוָהto the LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godכִּיbecauseכׇל־תּוֹעֲבַתevery abomination ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֲשֶׁרwhichשָׂנֵאHe hatesעָשׂוּthey didלֵאלֹהֵיהֶםto their godsכִּיbecauseגַםalsoאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶםtheir sonsוְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵיהֶםand their daughtersיִשְׂרְפוּthey burnבָאֵשׁin fireלֵאלֹהֵיהֶם׃to their gods

    Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.