16
They include little owls, great owls, white owls
17
and desert owls. They include ospreys and cormorants.
18
They include storks and all kinds of herons. They also include hoopoes and bats.
19
All insects that fly together in groups are "unclean" for you. So don't eat them.
20
But you can eat any creature that has wings and is "clean."
21
If you find something that's already dead, don't eat it. You can give it to an outsider who is living in any of your towns. He can eat it. Or you can sell it to someone who is from another country. But you are a holy nation. The LORD your God has set you apart for himself. Don't cook a young goat in its mother's milk.
Give a Tenth of What You Produce
22 Be sure to set apart a tenth of everything your fields produce each year.
23
Here are the things you should eat in the sight of the LORD your God. You should eat a tenth part of your grain, olive oil and fresh wine. You should also eat the male animals among your livestock that were born first to their mothers. Eat all of those things at the special place the LORD your God will choose. He will put his Name there. You will learn to have respect for him always.
24
But suppose the place the LORD will choose for his Name is too far away from you. And suppose your God has blessed you. And your tenth part is too heavy for you to carry.
25
Then sell it for silver. Take the silver with you. Go to the place the LORD your God will choose.
26
Use the silver to buy anything you like. It can be cattle or sheep. It can be any kind of wine. In fact, it can be anything else you wish. Then you and your family can eat there in the sight of the LORD your God. You can be filled with joy.