Unacceptable Sacrifices

17 The Lord said to Moses, 18 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israelv—presents a giftw for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vowx or as a freewill offering,y 19 you must present a male without defectz from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf.a 20 Do not bring anything with a defect,b because it will not be accepted on your behalf.c 21 When anyone brings from the herd or flockd a fellowship offeringe to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering,f it must be without defect or blemishg to be acceptable.h 22 Do not offer to the Lord the blind, the injured or the maimed, or anything with warts or festering or running sores. Do not place any of these on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord. 23 You may, however, present as a freewill offering an oxb or a sheep that is deformed or stunted, but it will not be accepted in fulfillment of a vow. 24 You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut.i You must not do this in your own land, 25 and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God.j They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and have defects.k’ ”