CHAPTER 26
When
you enter
the land
the LORD
your God
is giving
you as an inheritance,
and you take possession of it
and settle
in it,
you must take
some of the firstfruits
of all
the produce
of the ground
that
you bring in
from the land
the LORD
your God
is giving
you
and put them
in a basket.
Then go
to
the place
that
the LORD
your God
will choose
as a dwelling
for His name,
go
to
the priest
who
is
serving at that
time,
and say
to him,
“I declare
today
to the LORD
your God
that
I have entered
the land
which
the LORD
swore
to our fathers
to give
us."
Then the priest
shall take
the basket
from your hands
and place it
before
the altar
of the LORD
your God,
and you are to declare
before
the LORD
your God,
“My father
was a wandering
Aramean,
and he went down
to Egypt
few in number
and lived
there
and became
a great
nation,
mighty
and numerous.
So we called out
to
the LORD,
the God
of our fathers;
and the LORD
heard
our voice
and saw
our misery,
toil,
and oppression.
Then the LORD
brought us
out of Egypt
with a mighty
hand
and an outstretched
arm,
with great
terror,
signs,
and wonders.
And now,
behold,
I have brought
the firstfruits
of the land
that
You, O LORD,
have given
me.”
Then you are to place the basket
before
the LORD
your God
and bow down
before
Him.
So you shall rejoice—
you,
the Levite,
and the foreigner dwelling
among you—
in all
the good
things the LORD
your God
has given
to you
and your household.
When
you have finished laying aside
a tenth
of all
of your produce
in the third
year,
the year
of the tithe,
you are to give
it to the Levite,
the foreigner,
the fatherless,
and the widow,
that they may eat
and be filled
within your gates.
Then you shall declare
in the presence
of the LORD
your God,
“I have removed
from
my house
the sacred portion
and
have given it
to the Levite,
the foreigner,
the fatherless,
and the widow,
according to all
the commandments
You have given me.
I have not
transgressed
or forgotten
Your commandments.
I have not
eaten
any of the sacred portion
while in mourning,
or removed
any of it
while unclean,
or offered
any of
it for the dead.
I have obeyed
the LORD
my God;
I have done
everything
You commanded me.
Look down
from
Your holy
habitation,
from heaven,
and bless
Your people
Israel
and the land
You have given
us,
as
You swore
to our fathers,
a land
flowing
with milk
and honey.”
The LORD
your God
commands you
this
day
to follow
these
statutes
and ordinances.
You must be careful
to follow
them
with all
your heart
and all
your soul.
Today
you have proclaimed
that the LORD
is
your God
and that you will walk
in His ways,
keep
His statutes
and commandments
and ordinances,
and listen
to His voice.
And today
the LORD
has proclaimed you
to be
His
people,
a treasured possession
as
He promised,
and that you are to keep
all
His commandments,
and that He will set you
high
in praise
and name
and honor
above
all
the nations
He has made,
and that you will be
a holy
people
to the LORD
your God
as
He promised.