Behold: a stylistic feature, without much meaning in this context. In some languages an attention-getting word like “Look, LORD, I bring” may be used. Most modern translations such as New Revised Standard Version have “So now I bring….” Contemporary English Version has “Now, LORD, I bring….”

The first of the fruit of the ground: see verse 2.

Which thou, O LORD, hast given me: the second person of direct address should be retained in translation (unlike Good News Translation). And it will be good to begin the verse as follows, “So now, LORD, I bring to you the first share of the crops that you have given me.”

We should notice that here the single quotation mark in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation closes the man’s confession, which began in verse 5.

You shall set it down before the LORD your God: here the offerer himself does it, not the priest (as in verse 4); before the LORD your God probably means “in front of the LORD’s altar” (Contemporary English Version).

Worship before the LORD your God: here also, the sense is to worship in front of the altar, or simply “bow down before the LORD your God” (New International Version, New Revised Standard Version). New Jerusalem Bible has “prostrate yourself in the presence of Yahweh your God.” We can say either “bow down” or “worship”; perhaps “worship” is to be preferred.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

You shall rejoice … you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you: this appears to suggest a festive meal in the sanctuary (see 12.18; 14.23). Contemporary English Version makes this clear, with “Then you and your family must celebrate by eating a meal at the place of worship to thank the LORD your God for giving you such a good harvest.”

The Levite: rather “the Levites.” For a comment on Levite see 12.12.

The sojourner: see 1.16.

Among you is an impossible phrase in English, since you is singular, referring to the man who is making the offering. It means, of course, “[the resident aliens] who live in your [plural] towns, villages, or communities.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

You shall say before the LORD your God: as in verses 5 and 10. The context makes it quite certain that this does not take place at the central sanctuary. So this should be expressed as “Then you shall say to the LORD,” or even “Then you must pray, ‘Our LORD and our God, …’ ” (Contemporary English Version).

I have removed …: the Israelite declares that he has taken the full amount from his house and has given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.

The sacred portion: that is, the one-tenth to be given to the poor and needy. Another way to express this is “none of your [Yahweh’s] portion that has been set apart for the poor is left in my house,” or “none of the ten percent of my harvest that is yours and has been set apart for the poor….”

According to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: this is emphatic and very personal. For commandment see 4.2.

I have not transgressed … neither have I forgotten them: he has not disobeyed any of the commandments, either intentionally (transgressed) or unintentionally (forgotten). These commandments are not just the Ten Commandments but all of God’s rules and laws. We may also translate this final sentence as “I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commandments concerning this ten percent.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The vow the offerer makes shows that the tithe is actually offered to Yahweh, though he gives it to the poor and needy.

I have not eaten of the tithe while I was mourning: in some cultures there are terms for mourning for the dead and for the periods of mourning that follow the death of a relative. In others, descriptive phrases will be used; for example, “weep showing sorrow for the death of a person.”

Or removed any of it while I was unclean: an Israelite might accidentally come in contact with a corpse and thus become ritually unclean (Num 19.11, 14). If the man became unclean for this reason or for any other reason, handling the produce would make it unfit to be offered to God.

Removed any of it means “taken it out of the house” for whatever reason, perhaps to give it to someone other than a needy person. An alternative translation model for the first part of this verse is:

• I have not eaten any of it when I was weeping to show my sorrow for the death of a person; in fact I never took any of it out of the house when I was ritually unclean.

Offered any of it to the dead: see the related passage in 14.1. There are various interpretations of this rite:
(1) Placing food and drink on the tomb for the dead person to have while on his or her way to the world of the dead.
(2) Making an offering to the god of the dead, or the vegetation god Baal, as the Canaanites did.
(3) Having a festive meal in honor of the dead person.

There is no way to decide which of these three (or some other explanation) is correct. Most translations make their interpretation known by translating “offer for the dead” or else “offer to the dead” (see Good News Translation text and the alternate translation in its footnote).

To complicate the matter, in English the dead is a collective noun, meaning “dead people”; if a translation wants to make the phrase singular, it will have to say “a dead person.” Bible en français courant has “an offering for a dead person”; Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “offering to a dead person,” with a footnote explaining that the meaning of this ritual is not known. The Pléiade translation also has “to a dead person” and explains in footnote that this is a sacrificial feast in honor of the dead person. It is impossible to be dogmatic; if the phrase “offering for [or, on behalf of] a dead person” makes sense, this may be used. But where it is possible to do it, an explanatory footnote would be useful.

I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God: the offerer now repeats his vow of complete obedience to God. He has obeyed God’s laws. Good News Translation says clearly “I have obeyed you, O LORD.”

I have done according to all that thou hast commanded me: or “I have done everything exactly as you commanded concerning the tithe [or, ten percent].” Again this is very emphatic and personal (as in verse 13).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

This prayer is addressed to God, who lives in his holy habitation in heaven; this may indicate that the worshiper is not in the central sanctuary (see verse 13). The translation of holy habitation should not mean a temple or a church; an expression like “your house” should be used. Here holy can be translated “your own home”: it is holy because God lives there (see 5.12; 14.2).

Bless thy people Israel: or “cause your people Israel to be prosperous.”

Bless … the ground which thou hast given us: that is, the land of Canaan. Another way to express this is “cause this land that you have given us to produce many crops [or, much fruit].”

As thou didst swear to our fathers: see 1.8.

A land flowing with milk and honey: see 6.3 and verse 9.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Look down from your home in heaven [or, from heaven, where you live] and cause your people Israel to prosper. You promised our ancestors that you would give us a land full of cattle and produce [or crops, or fruit]. You have done what you promised.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

You have declared this day concerning the LORD: this is a formal statement; some think it may be a technical term used in ratifying a covenant. It is balanced by the parallel in the next verse, “the LORD has declared this day concerning you.” Unlike Good News Translation, the verbal parallel should be maintained in translation, if possible.

You will walk in his ways: this is the life of obedience to God’s laws (see 9.6; 10.12; 11.22). In a number of languages figurative expressions similar to walk in his ways will be used; for example, “walk along his paths,” or “follow his paths.”

His statutes and his commandments: see 4.1, 2.

Obey his voice: as in verse 14.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

You are a people for his own possession: see the same expression in 7.6; 14.2.

You are to keep all his commandments: there is a lot of repetition in this section, emphasizing the importance of these instructions.

An alternative translation model combining verses 17 and 18 may be:

• Today you have acknowledged [or, confessed] that Yahweh will be your God. You have promised to walk in his paths, to keep all his laws, and do all he commands you. Since you have agreed to keep all his commands, on his part Yahweh has agreed that you will be his own people.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

He will set you high above all nations: God promises that, if the people obey his commands, Israel will be the most powerful nation on earth. This promise is repeated in 28.1. Good News Translation has “He will make you greater than any other nation that he has created”; or we may say “The LORD created all nations, but he will make you greater than any of them” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

All nations that he has made: God is the Creator of all peoples, not just of Israel.

In praise and in fame and in honor: again there are three terms similar in meaning, emphasizing the high status that God will give Israel. This phrase, however, can also be understood to refer to the “praise, fame, and honor” that people will give God because of Israel’s power: “to bring him praise and fame and glory” (Revised English Bible, Revised English Bible, also Mayes). Those who favor this interpretation refer to the same expression in Jer 13.11; but no other major translation agrees with New English Bible and Revised English Bible. It is recommended that the meaning given by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation be followed. Another model may be “People will praise and honor you.”

A people holy to the LORD your God: see 7.6; 14.2, 21.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .