Deuteronomy 26

Give the Lord the First Part of Your Harvest

Moses said to Israel:

1The Lord is giving you the land, and soon you will conquer it, settle down, 2#Ex 23.19. 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, 3and 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.”

4The priest will take the basket and set it in front of the Lord's altar. 5Then, 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.

6The Egyptians were cruel

and had no pity on us.

They mistreated our people

and forced us into slavery.

7We called out for help

to you, the Lord God

of our ancestors.

You heard our cries;

you knew we were in trouble

and abused.

8Then you terrified the Egyptians

with your mighty miracles

and rescued us from Egypt.

9You brought us here

and gave us this land

rich with milk and honey.

10Now, 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.

11Then 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:

12 # Dt 14.28,29. Every year you are to give ten percent of your harvest to the Lord.#26.12 Every year … Lord: See 14.22-29. But every third year,#26.12 every third year: Probably the third and sixth years of the seven-year cycle described in 15.1-11 and Leviticus 25.1-7. this ten percent must be given to the poor who live in your town, including Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. That way, they will have enough to eat. 13Then 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.

14I have not eaten any of this sacred food while I was in mourning; in fact, I never touched it when I was unclean.#26.14 in mourning … unclean: Touching a dead body made a person unclean and unfit to worship God. Ten percent of the harvest belonged to God, and was not to be touched by an unclean person. And none of it has been offered as a sacrifice to the spirits of the dead. I have done everything exactly as you commanded.

15Our 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:

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

17In 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 # Ex 19.5; Dt 4.20; 7.6; 14.2; Titus 2.14; 1 P 2.9. 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. 19The 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.

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Deuteronomy 26: CEV

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