Deuteronomy 18

1 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.

The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire and his portion.

2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said to them.

They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Yahweh is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them.

3 And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether ox or sheep; and they shall give to the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the stomach.

This shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the priest: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts.

4 The firstfruit also of thy grain, of thy wine, and of thy oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep.

5 For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.

For Yahweh your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in Yahweh’s name, him and his sons forever.

6 And if a Levite shall come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind to the place which the LORD shall choose;

If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose,

7 Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD.

then he shall minister in the name of Yahweh his God, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Yahweh.

8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of their fathers’ estates.

They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions.

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with mediums, or a wizard, or one who calls up the dead.

or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Because of these abominations, Yahweh your God drives them out from before you.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

You shall be blameless with Yahweh your God.

14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened to observers of times, and to diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not permitted thee so to do.

For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you so to do.

15 The LORD thy God will raise up to thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like me; to him ye shall hearken;

Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.

16 According to all that thou didst desire of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I may not die.

This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”

17 And the LORD said to me, They have well spoken of that which they have spoken.

Yahweh said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise up to them a Prophet from among their brethren, like thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.

I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whoever will not hearken to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

20 But the prophet, who shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”

21 And if thou shalt say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?”

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing doth not follow, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.