Catholic Public Domain Version

Numbers 18:20-29 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

20. And the Lord said to Aaron: "In their land, you shall possess nothing; neither shall you have a portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance in the midst of the sons of Israel.

21. But I have given, to the sons of Levi, all the tithes of Israel as a possession, for the ministry by which they serve me in the tabernacle of the covenant,

22. so that the sons of Israel may no longer approach to the tabernacle, nor commit deadly sin.

23. Only the sons of Levi may serve me in the tabernacle and may carry the sins of the people. It shall be an everlasting ordinance in your generations. They shall possess nothing else;

24. being content with the oblation of tithes, which I have separated for their uses and necessities."

25. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

26. "Instruct the Levites, and also declare to them: When you will receive, from the sons of Israel, the tithes, which I have given to you, offer their first-fruits to the Lord, that is, the tenth part of a tenth,

27. so that it may be accounted to you as an oblation of the first-fruits, as much from the threshing floors as from the oil and wine presses.

28. And offer the first-fruits of everything, from which you receive tithes, to the Lord, and give them to Aaron the priest.

29. Everything which you shall offer from the tithes, and which you shall separate as gifts to the Lord, shall be the finest and most select.