Open English Translation DEUT Chapter 26

26 After you’ve entered the land that your god Yahweh is giving you as an inheritance, and you occupy it and live there, 2 each of you should take the first part of your harvest in that place and put it in a basket. Then take it to the place that your god Yahweh is going to choose to attach his name to.[ref] 3 Go to the high priest in office at that time, and tell him, “I declare today to your god Yahweh that I’ve entered the land that he promised to our ancestors to give us.”

4 The priest will take that basket of food and place it in front of your god Yahweh’s altar. 5 Then in Yahweh’s presence you should respond, “My ancestor was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Mitsrayim (Egypt) with his smallish family, and lived there and eventually became a large and powerful people. 6 But the Mitsrim (Egyptians) treated us badly and oppressed us—forcing us into hard labour. 7 We cried out to our ancestors’ god Yahweh to help us, and he heard our cry and saw our suffering and oppression and the hard labour. 8 ⇔Then using your great power and doing many miracles and other terrifying things, you brought us out from Mitsrayim 9 and brought us to this very fertile land 10 So now, Yahweh, I’ve brought the first part of the harvest from that land that you’ve given me.”

Then as the basket is placed in front of Yahweh, you must bow down in front of him. 11 Then you can celebrate by eating all the good things that your god Yahweh has given to you and your household, and it’s also for the Levites and the foreigners who live among you.

12 Every third year, take a tenth of your harvest to the Levites, the foreigners, and the orphans and widows in your town for them to eat and be content.[ref] 13 Then you must explain in front of your god Yahweh, “I’ve taken the sacred tenth from my house and given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans and widows, thus following all of your instructions. I’ve not disobeyed or forgotten your regulations. 14 I never used any of it at a funeral, or took it in disobedience, or offered it to the dead. I’ve listen to the voice of my god Yahweh and followed all your instructions, 15 so look down from your sacred home in the heavens and bless your people Yisrael (Israel) and the land that you’ve given us that’s so fertile, as you had promised our ancestors.

16 Today your god Yahweh is commanding you to follow all these instructions and regulations, so follow them sincerely and enthusiastically. 17 You have declared today that Yahweh is your god, and that you’ll follow all his instructions and keep his regulations and commands and rules, and listen to his voice. 18 Also today, Yahweh has declared that you are his people, like a prized possession, like he told you that you would be.[ref] You must follow all his instructions 19 and then he’ll make your country greater than all the others that he’s established. You’ll be praised for your reputation and beauty, and you’ll be different from the others—being a sacred people for your god Yahweh, just like he’s said.