The Firstfruits and Tithe

Deuteronomy 26

Moses instructs Israel to bring the first fruits of the land to the priest with a spoken recollection of their deliverance from Egypt, to complete the giving of the tithe for the Levite, stranger, orphan and widow, and to affirm the covenant to walk in the Lord's ways.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW, when thou art come to the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for a possession, and hast taken possession of it, and dwelt therein,

BrentonAnd it shall be when thou shalt have entered into the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit it, and thou shalt have inherited it, and thou shalt have dwelt upon it,

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐὰν εἰσέλθῆς εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι κληρονομῆσαι, καὶ κατακληρονομήσῃς αὐτὴν, καὶ κατοικήσῃς ἐπʼ αὐτὴν,

KJVAnd it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;

JPSAnd it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and dost possess it, and dwell therein;

Thomsonthou shalt take some of the first fruits of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and put them in a basket, and go to the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen for His name to be there invoked,

Brentonthat thou shalt take of the first of the fruits of thy land, which the Lord thy God gives thee, and thou shalt put them into a basket, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there.

Greekκαὶ λήμψῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀπαρχῆς τῶν καρπῶν τῆς γῆς σου, ἧς Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι, καὶ ἐμβαλεῖς εἰς κάρταλλον, καὶ πορεύσῃ εἰς τὸν τόπον, ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ.

KJVThat thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

JPSthat thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which thou shalt bring in from thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee; and thou shalt put it in a basket and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.

Thomsonand thou shalt go to the priest, who shall be in those days, and say to him, I acknowledge this day to the Lord my God, that I am come to the land which the Lord solemnly promised our fathers to give us.

BrentonAnd thou shalt come to the priest who shall be in those days, and thou shalt say to him, I testify this day to the Lord my God, that I am come into the land which the Lord sware to our fathers to give to us.

GreekΚαὶ ἐλεύσῃ πρὸς τὸν ἱερέα ὃς ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἀναγγέλλω σήμερον Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ μου, ὅτι εἰσελήλυθα εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσε Κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν δοῦναι ἡμῖν.

KJVAnd thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.

JPSAnd thou shalt come unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him: ‘I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the land which the LORD swore unto our fathers to give us.’

ThomsonThereupon the priest shall take the basket out of thy hands, and set it down over against the altar of the Lord thy God,

BrentonAnd the priest shall take the basket out of thine hands, and shall set it before the altar of the Lord thy God:

GreekΚαὶ λήψεται ὁ ἱερεὺς τὸν κάρταλλον ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου, καὶ θήσει αὐτὸν ἀπέναντι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.

KJVAnd the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.

JPSAnd the priest shall take the basket out of thy hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.

Thomsonand in the presence of the Lord shall answer, and say, My father left Syria, and went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, with a small number, and became there a great nation, and a vast multitude.

Brentonand he shall answer and say before the Lord thy God, My father abandoned Syria, and went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a small number, and became there a mighty nation and a great multitude.

GreekΚαὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ἐρεῖ ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, Συρίαν ἀπέβαλεν ὁ πατήρ μου, καὶ κατέβη εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ παρῴκησεν ἐκεῖ ἐν ἀριθμῷ βραχεῖ, καὶ ἐγένετο ἐκεῖ εἰς ἔθνος μέγα καὶ πλῆθος πολύ.

KJVAnd thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

JPSAnd thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

ThomsonAnd when the Egyptians afflicted us, and humbled us, and imposed upon us hard labours,

BrentonAnd the Egyptians afflicted us, and humbled us, and imposed hard tasks on us:

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάκωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι, καὶ ἐταπείνωσαν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἡμῖν ἔργα σκληρά·

KJVAnd the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:

JPSAnd the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage.

Thomsonand we cried to the Lord our God, the Lord heard our voice. When He saw our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression,

Brentonand we cried to the Lord our God, and the Lord heard our voice, and saw our humiliation, and our labour, and our affliction.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνεβοήσαμεν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ εἰσήκουσε Κύριος τῆς φωνῆς ἡμῶν, καὶ εἴδε τὴν ταπείνωσιν ἡμῶν, καὶ τὸν μόχθον ἡμῶν, καὶ τὸν θλιμμὸν ἡμῶν.

KJVAnd when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:

JPSAnd we cried unto the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression.

Thomsonthe Lord Himself brought us out of Egypt with His great power, and with His strong hand, and outstretched arm, and with great visions, and with signs, and with wonders,

BrentonAnd the Lord brought us out of Egypt himself with his great strength, and his mighty hand, and his high arm, and with great visions, and with signs, and with wonders.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξήγαγεν ἡμᾶς Κύριος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου αὐτὸς ἐν ἰσχύϊ αὐτοῦ τῇ μεγάλῃ, καὶ ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ, καὶ βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ, καὶ ἐν ὁράμασι μεγάλοις, καὶ ἐν σημείοις, καὶ ἐν τέρασι.

KJVAnd the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:

JPSAnd the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders.

Thomsonand brought us to this place, and gave us this land—a land flowing with milk and honey.

BrentonAnd he brought us into this place, and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

GreekΚαὶ εἰσήγαγεν ἡμᾶς εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν τὴν γῆν ταύτην, γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι.

KJVAnd he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.

JPSAnd He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

ThomsonNow therefore, behold, I have brought this offering of the products of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me—a land flowing with milk and honey.

BrentonAnd now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruits of the land, which thou gavest me, O Lord, a land flowing with milk and honey: and thou shalt leave it before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt worship before the Lord thy God;

GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐνήνοχα τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τῶν γεννμάτων τῆς γῆς, ἧς ἔδωκάς μοι Κύριε, γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι· καὶ ἀφήσεις αὐτὸ ἀπέναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, καὶ προσκυνήσεις ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου,

KJVAnd now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:

JPSAnd now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the land, which Thou, O LORD, hast given me.’ And thou shalt set it down before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God.

ThomsonThen thou shalt leave it before the Lord thy God; and when thou hast worshipped before the Lord thy God, thou shalt regale thyself with all the good things which the Lord thy God hath given thee. thou, and thy family, and the Levite, and the proselyte who is with thee.

Brentonand thou shalt rejoice in all the good things, which the Lord thy God has given thee, thou and thy family, and the Levite, and the stranger that is within thee.

Greekκαὶ εὐφρανθήσῃ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς ἔδωκέ σοι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, καὶ ἡ οἰκία σου, καὶ ὁ Λευίτης, καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος ὁ ἐν σοί.

KJVAnd thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.

JPSAnd thou shalt rejoice in all the good which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is in the midst of thee.

ThomsonAnd when thou hast finished tithing the tenth of all thy produce in the third year, thou shalt give another tenth to the Levite, and the proselyte, and the orphan, and the widow, that they may eat in thy cities, and be regaled.

BrentonAnd when thou shalt have completed all the tithings of thy fruits in the third year, thou shalt give the second tenth to the Levite, and stranger, and fatherless, and widow; and they shall eat it in thy cities, and be merry.

GreekἘὰν δὲ συντελέσῃς ἀποδεκατῶσαι πᾶν τὸ ἐπιδέκατον τῶν γενημάτων σου ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ τρίτῳ, τὸ δεύτερον ἐπιδέκατον δώσεις τῷ Λευίτῃ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ, καὶ φάγονται ἐν ταῖς πόλεσί σου, καὶ εὐφρανθήσονται.

KJVWhen thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

JPSWhen thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be satisfied,

ThomsonThen thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have removed the hallowed things clean out of my house, and have given them to the Levite, and the proselyte, and the orphan, and the widow, according to all the commands which Thou hast commanded me. I have not transgressed Thy command, nor forgot it.

BrentonAnd thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have fully collected the holy things out of my house, and I have given them to the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, according to all the commands which thou didst command me: I did not transgress thy command, and I did not forget it.

GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖς ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, ἐξεκάθαρα τὰ ἅγια ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας μου, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτὰ τῷ Λευίτῃ καὶ τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ, κατὰ πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ἃς ἐνετείλω μοι· οὐ παρῆλθον τὴν ἐντολήν σου, καὶ οὐκ ἐπελαθόμην.

KJVThen thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:

JPSthen thou shalt say before the LORD thy God: ‘I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Thy commandment which Thou hast commanded me; I have not transgressed any of Thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them.

ThomsonI have not, in my mourning, eaten any of them, nor offered any of them in homage to an unclean thing, nor given any of them to the dead. I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God. I have done as Thou hast commanded me.

BrentonAnd in my distress I did not eat of them, I have not gathered of them for an unclean purpose, I have not given of them to the dead; I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἔφαγον ἐν ὀδύνῃ μου ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἐκάρπωσα ἀπʼ αὐτῶν εἰς ἀκάθαρτον, οὐκ ἔδωκα ἀπʼ αὐτῶν τῷ τεθνηκότι· ὑπήκουσα τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, ἐποίησα καθὰ ἐνετείλω μοι.

KJVI have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

JPSI have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I put away thereof, being unclean, nor given thereof for the dead; I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, I have done according to all that Thou hast commanded me.

ThomsonLook down from Thy holy habitation—from heaven, and bless Thy people Israel, and this land which Thou hast given them, as Thou didst solemnly promise our fathers to give us a land flowing with milk and honey.

BrentonLook down from thy holy house, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given them, as thou didst swear to our fathers, to give to us a land flowing with milk and honey.

GreekΚάτιδε ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ ἁγίου σου ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ εὐλόγησον τὸν λαόν σου τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ τὴν γῆν ἣν ἔδωκας αὐτοῖς, καθὰ ὤμοσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν, δοῦναι ἡμῖν γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι.

KJVLook down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

JPSLook forth from Thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Thy people Israel, and the land which Thou hast given us, as Thou didst swear unto our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.’

ThomsonThis day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to practise all these rules of rectitude and these judgments; you shall therefore keep, and perform them, with your whole heart, and with your whole soul.

BrentonOn this day the Lord thy God charged thee to keep all the ordinances and judgments; and ye shall observe and do them, with all your heart, and with all your soul.

GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐνετείλατό σοι ποιῆσαι πάντα τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα· καὶ φυλάξεσθε καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτὰ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν.

KJVThis day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

JPSThis day the LORD thy God commandeth thee to do these statutes and ordinances; thou shalt therefore observe and do them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.

ThomsonThou hast this day chosen God to be thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His rules of rectitude, and His judgments, and to hearken to His voice.

BrentonThou hast chosen God this day to be thy God, and to walk in all his ways, and to observe his ordinances and judgments, and to hearken to his voice.

GreekΤὸν Θεὸν εἵλου σήμερον εἶναί σου Θεόν, καὶ πορεύεσθαι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ φυλάσσεσθαι τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα, καὶ ὑπακούειν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ.

KJVThou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

JPSThou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in His ways, and keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His ordinances, and hearken unto His voice.

ThomsonAnd the Lord hath this day chosen thee to be a peculiar people to Himself, as He hath said, that thou mayst keep His commandments, and be, as He hath made thee,

BrentonAnd the Lord has chosen thee this day that thou shouldest be to him a peculiar people, as he said, to keep his commands;

GreekΚαὶ Κύριος εἵλατό σε σήμερον γενέσθαι σε αὐτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, καθάπερ εἶπε, φυλάττειν τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ,

KJVAnd the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

JPSAnd the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be His own treasure, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all His commandments;

Thomsonrenowned above all the nations, and a boast, and glorious, and that thou mayst be a people dedicated to the Lord, as He hath spoken.

Brentonand that thou shouldest be above all nations, as he has made thee renowned, and a boast, and glorious, that thou shouldest be a holy people to the Lord thy God, as he has spoken.

Greekκαὶ εἶναί σε ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὡς ἐποίησέ σε ὀνομαστὸν καὶ καύχημα καὶ δοξαστόν, εἶναί σε λαὸν ἅγιον Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου, καθὼς ἐλάλησε.

KJVAnd to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

JPSand to make thee high above all nations that He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in glory; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto the LORD thy God, as He hath spoken.