1The LORD spoke to Moses, 2"Tell Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites that this is what the LORD has commanded: 3Any Israelite who slaughters a bull, sheep, or goat inside or outside the camp 4is guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood and must be excluded from the people. Bring the animal to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Offer it to the LORD in front of the LORD's tent. 5[This means] that the people of Israel must take the sacrifices they have been making in the open fields and bring them to the LORD. They must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The people will sacrifice them as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6The priest will pour the blood against the LORD's altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He will burn the fat as a soothing aroma to the LORD. 7The people must stop sacrificing to goat idols and chasing after them as though they were prostitutes. This is a permanent law for the people and for future generations.

8"Tell them: If Israelites or foreigners make burnt offerings or sacrifices 9but do not bring them to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer them to the LORD, they must be excluded from the people.

10"If Israelites or foreigners eat any blood, I will condemn them and exclude them from the people, 11because blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me. 12That is why I have said to the people of Israel: Neither you nor foreigners should ever eat blood. 13"If Israelites or foreigners hunt any animal or bird that may be eaten, they must pour out the animal's blood and cover it with dirt.

14This is because the life of any creature is in its blood. So I have said to the people of Israel: Never eat any blood, because the life of any creature is in its blood. Whoever eats blood must be excluded [from the people]. 15"Native Israelites or foreigners who eat the body of an animal that dies naturally or is killed by another animal must wash their clothes and their bodies. They will be unclean until evening. Then they will be clean. 16If they don't wash their clothes and their bodies, they will be guilty of sin."