Deuteronomy 26

Chapter 26

Harvest Offerings and Tithes

1 “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there,2 put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored.3 Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the LORD your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’

4 The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the LORD your God.
5 “You must then say in the presence of the LORD your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.6 When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves,7 we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors. He heard our cries and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression.8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and wonders.9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey!10 And now, O LORD, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the LORD your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him.

11 Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.
12 “Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.13 Then you must declare in the presence of the LORD your God, ‘I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, just as you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands.14 I have not eaten any of it while in mourning; I have not handled it while I was ceremonially unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God and have done everything you commanded me.

15 Now look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you swore to our ancestors to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

A Call to Obey the LORD’s Commands

16 “Today the LORD your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them wholeheartedly.17 You have declared today that the LORD is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and to obey his decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything he tells you.18 The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands.

19 And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as he promised.”

DEUTERONOMY 26

Give the [Lord] //the First Part //of Your Harvest

Moses said to Israel:

1 The [Lord] is giving you the land, and soon you will conquer it, settle down, 2 t and plant crops. And when you begin harvesting each of your crops, the very first things you pick must be put in a basket. Take them to the place where the [Lord] your God chooses to be worshiped,

3 and tell the priest, “Long ago the [Lord] our God promised our ancestors that he would give us this land. And today, I thank him for keeping his promise and giving me a share of the land.”
4 The priest will take the basket and set it in front of the [Lord]'s altar.

5 Then, standing there in front of the place of worship, you must pray:
My ancestor was homeless,
an Aramean who went to live
in Egypt.
There were only a few
in his family then,
but they became great
and powerful,
a nation of many people.

6 The Egyptians were cruel
and had no pity on us.
They mistreated our people
and forced us into slavery.

7 We called out for help
to you, the [Lord] God
of our ancestors.
You heard our cries;
you knew we were in trouble
and abused.

8 Then you terrified the Egyptians
with your mighty miracles
and rescued us from Egypt.

9 You brought us here
and gave us this land
rich with milk and honey.

10 Now, [Lord], I bring to you
the best of the crops
that you have given me.
After you say these things, place the basket in front of the [Lord]'s altar and bow down to worship him.

11 Then you and your family must celebrate by eating a meal at the place of worship to thank the [Lord] your God for giving you such a good harvest. And remember to invite the Levites and the foreigners who live in your town.

Ten Percent //of the Harvest

Moses said to Israel:

13 Then you must pray:
Our [Lord] and our God, you have said that ten percent of my harvest is sacred. I have obeyed your command and given this to the poor, including the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows.

14 I have not eaten any of this sacred food while I was in mourning; in fact, I never touched it when I was unclean.t And none of it has been offered as a sacrifice to the spirits of the dead. I have done everything exactly as you commanded.

15 Our [Lord], look down from your temple in heaven and bless us and our land. You promised our ancestors that you would give us this land rich with milk and honey, and you have kept your promise.

The [Lord] Is Your God, //and You Are His People

Moses said to Israel:

16 Today the [Lord] your God has commanded you to obey these laws and teachings with all your heart and soul.

17 In response, you have agreed that the [Lord] will be your God, that you will obey all his laws and teachings, and that you will listen when he speaks to you.
18  t Since you have agreed to obey the [Lord], he has agreed that you will be his people and that you will belong to him, just as he promised. 19 The [Lord] created all nations, but he will make you more famous than any of them, and you will receive more praise and honor. You will belong only to the [Lord] your God, just as he promised.