14 1-2 You are children of God, your God, so don’t mutilate your bodies or shave your heads in funeral rites for the dead. You only are a people holy to God, your God; God chose you out of all the people on Earth as his cherished personal treasure.

3-8 Don’t eat anything abominable. These are the animals you may eat: ox, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, roebuck, wild goat, ibex, antelope, mountain sheep—any animal that has a cloven hoof and chews the cud. But you may not eat camels, rabbits, and rock badgers because they chew the cud but they don’t have a cloven hoof—that makes them ritually unclean. And pigs: Don’t eat pigs—they have a cloven hoof but don’t chew the cud, which makes them ritually unclean. Don’t even touch a pig’s carcass.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

The Message Devotional Bible, Hardcover
The Message Devotional Bible, Hardcover
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $19.29
Save: $10.70 (36%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
The Message, Large Print Premium Leather, Black
The Message, Large Print Premium Leather, Black
Retail: $149.99
Our Price: $96.43
Save: $53.56 (36%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
The Message Student Devotional Bible: Psalms
The Message Student Devotional Bible: Psalms
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $8.49
Save: $1.50 (15%)
The Message Personal-Size Bible--soft leather-look, saddle tan
The Message Personal-Size Bible--soft leather-look, saddle tan
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $34.15
Save: $5.84 (15%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, amethyst gem
The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, amethyst gem
Retail: $19.99
Our Price: $14.87
Save: $5.12 (26%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars