Home Master Index
←Prev   Deuteronomy 26 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


26:1  When you go into the land the Lord your God is giving you as your ·own [L inheritance], to ·take it over [possess it] and live in it,
26:2  you must take some of the first harvest of crops that grow from the land the Lord your God is giving you. Put the food in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose to ·be worshiped [L cause his name to dwell; C Zion; 12:4–6].
26:3  Go and say to the priest ·on duty at that time [in office in those days], “Today I declare before the Lord your God that I have come into the land the Lord promised our ·ancestors [fathers] that he would give us [Gen. 12:1–3].”
26:4  The priest will take your basket and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God.
26:5  Then you shall announce before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean [C likely a reference to Jacob/Israel’s stay in Paddan-Aram; Gen. 28–31]. He went down to Egypt and lived as a ·foreigner [resident alien] with only a few people, but they became a great, powerful, and large nation there [Gen. 12:1–3].
26:6  But the Egyptians were ·cruel [mean] to us, ·making us suffer [afflicting/humiliating us] and ·work very hard [giving us onerous work].
26:7  So we ·prayed [cried out] to the Lord, the God of our ·ancestors [fathers], and he heard us. When he saw our ·trouble [affliction; humiliation], hard work, and ·suffering [oppression; Ex. 2:23–25; 3:7, 9],
26:8  the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his ·great power [L strong hand] and ·strength [L outstretched arm], using great terrors, signs, and ·miracles [wonders].
26:9  Then he brought us to this place and gave us this ·fertile land [L land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8].
26:10  Now I bring part of the first harvest from this land that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.
26:11  Then you and the Levites and ·foreigners [resident aliens] among you should rejoice, because the Lord your God has given good things to you and your ·family [L house].
26:12  ·Bring [Finish paying] a ·tenth [T tithe] of all your harvest the third year [14:28–29] (the year to give a ·tenth [T tithe] of your harvest). Give it to the Levites, ·foreigners [resident aliens], orphans, and widows so that they may eat in your ·towns [L gates] and be full.
26:13  Then say to the Lord your God, “I have taken out of my house ·the part of my harvest that belongs to God [L what is holy/consecrated/sacred], and I have given it to the Levites, ·foreigners [resident aliens], orphans, and widows. I have done everything you commanded me; I have not broken your commands, and I have not forgotten any of them.
26:14  I have not eaten any of the holy part while I was in ·sorrow [mourning]. I have not removed any of it while I was unclean [C in a ritual sense], and I have not offered it ·for [or to] dead people. I have obeyed you, the Lord my God, and have done everything you commanded me.
26:15  So look down from heaven, your holy home. Bless your people Israel and bless the land you have given us, which you ·promised [swore] to our ·ancestors [fathers]—a ·fertile land [L land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8].”
26:16  Today the Lord your God commands you to obey all these ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and laws; be careful to obey them with ·your whole being [L all your heart/mind and all your soul].
26:17  Today you have said that the Lord is your God, and you ·have promised to do what he wants you to do [L will walk on his way/path]—to keep his ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], commands, and laws. You have said you will ·obey him [listen to his voice].
26:18  And today the Lord has said that you are his ·very own people [treasured/special possession; Ex. 19:5], as he has promised you. But you must obey his commands.
26:19  He will ·make you greater [set you higher] than all the other nations he made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a holy people to the Lord your God, as he has said [Ex. 19:6].