³⁰ “‘A tithe^(A) of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy^(B) to the Lord. ³¹ Whoever would redeem^(C) any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value^(D) to it. ³² Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod^(E)—will be holy to the Lord. ³³ No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.^(F) If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.^(G)’”

Tithes

²² Be sure to set aside a tenth^(A) of all that your fields produce each year. ²³ Eat^(B) the tithe of your grain, new wine^(C) and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name,^(D) so that you may learn^(E) to revere^(F) the Lord your God always. ²⁴ But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), ²⁵ then exchange^(G) your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. ²⁶ Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink,^(H) or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.^{(I) 27} And do not neglect the Levites^(J) living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.^(K)

²⁸ At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes^(L) of that year’s produce and store it in your towns,^{(M) 29} so that the Levites (who have no allotment^(N) or inheritance^(O) of their own) and the foreigners,^(P) the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied,^(Q) and so that the Lord your God may bless^(R) you in all the work of your hands.

⁴⁴ At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms^(A) for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.^(B) From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.^(C)

⁸ “Will a mere mortal rob^(A) God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes^(B) and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse^(C)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe^(D) into the storehouse,^(E) that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates^(F) of heaven and pour out^(G) so much blessing^(H) that there will not be room enough to store it.^(I)

⁴ Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^(A) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{(B) 5} Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(C)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed^(D) him who had the promises.^{(E) 7} And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.^{(F) 9} One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰ because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.