Deuteronomy 14:22-29

New International Reader's Version

Give a Tenth of What You Produce

²² Be sure to set apart a tenth of everything your fields produce each year. ²³ Here are the things you should eat in the sight of the Lord your God. You should eat a tenth part of your grain, olive oil and fresh wine. You should also eat the male animals among your livestock that were born first to their mothers. Eat all these things at the special place the Lord your God will choose. He will put his Name there. You will learn to honor him always. ²⁴ But suppose the place the Lord will choose for his Name is too far away from you. And suppose your God has blessed you. And your tenth part is too heavy for you to carry. ²⁵ Then sell it for silver. Take the silver with you. Go to the place the Lord your God will choose. ²⁶ Use the silver to buy anything you like. It can be cattle or sheep. It can be any kind of wine. In fact, it can be anything else you wish. Then you and your family can eat there in the sight of the Lord your God. You can be filled with joy. ²⁷ Don’t forget to take care of the Levites who will live in your towns. They won’t receive any part of the land as their share.

²⁸ At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of everything you produce that year. Store it in your towns. ²⁹ Then the Levites can come and eat. That’s because they won’t receive any part of the land as their share. The outsiders and widows who live in your towns can come. So can the children whose fathers have died. Everyone can have plenty to eat. Then the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.