The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Deuteronomy 18

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Torah

Deuteronomy chapter 18 — part of the Torah in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “The priests the Levites, even all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of HaShem made…” — the complete text of all 22 verses is below, free to read online.

1The priests the Levites, even all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of HaShem made by fire, and His inheritance.

2And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; HaShem is their inheritance, as He hath spoken unto them.

3And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

4The first-fruits of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

5For HaShem thy G-d hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of HaShem, him and his sons for ever.

6And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourneth, and come with all the desire of his soul unto the place which HaShem shall choose;

7then he shall minister in the name of HaShem his G-d, as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before HaShem.

8They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which is his due according to the fathers' houses.

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

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

11or a charmer, or one that consulteth a ghost or a familiar spirit, or a necromancer.

12For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto HaShem; and because of these abominations HaShem thy G-d is driving them out from before thee.

13Thou shalt be whole-hearted with HaShem thy G-d.

14For these nations, that thou art to dispossess, hearken unto soothsayers, and unto diviners; but as for thee, HaShem thy G-d hath not suffered thee so to do.

15A prophet will HaShem thy G-d raise up unto thee, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

16according to all that thou didst desire of HaShem thy G-d in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying: 'Let me not hear again the voice of HaShem my G-d, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.'

17And HaShem said unto me: 'They have well said that which they have spoken.

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

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

20But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'

21And if thou say in thy heart: 'How shall we know the word which HaShem hath not spoken?'

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

22 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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