19. Anything the Israelites present as holy gifts I, the Lord, give to you, your sons and daughters as your continual portion. This is a lasting agreement of salt before the Lord for you and your children forever.”
20. The Lord also said to Aaron, “You will not inherit any of the land, and you will not own any land among the other people. I will be yours. Out of all the Israelites, only you will inherit me.
21. “When the people of Israel give me a tenth of what they make, I will give that tenth to the Levites. This is their payment for the work they do serving at the Meeting Tent.
22. But the other Israelites must never go near the Meeting Tent, or they will die for their sin.
23. Only the Levites should work in the Meeting Tent and be responsible for any sins against it. This is a rule from now on. The Levites will not inherit any land among the other Israelites,
24. but when the Israelites give a tenth of everything they make to me, I will give that tenth to the Levites as a reward. That is why I said about the Levites: ‘They will not inherit any land among the Israelites.’ ”
25. The Lord said to Moses,
26. “Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘You will receive a tenth of everything the Israelites make, which I will give to you. But you must give a tenth of that back to the Lord.
27. I will accept your offering just as much as I accept the offerings from others, who give new grain or new wine.
28. In this way you will present an offering to the Lord as the other Israelites do. When you receive a tenth from the Israelites, you will give a tenth of that to Aaron, the priest, as the Lord’s share.
29. Choose the best and holiest part from what you are given as the portion you must give to the Lord.’
30. “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best, it will be accepted as much as the grain and wine from the other people.
31. You and your families may eat all that is left anywhere, because it is your pay for your work in the Meeting Tent.
32. And if you always give the best part to the Lord, you will never be guilty. If you do not sin against the holy offerings of the Israelites, you will not die.’ ”