Of the firstof your doughyou shall liftup a cakeas an offering;as the offeringof the threshingfloor,soyou shall liftit up.
We will also bringthe firstof our dough,our contributions,the fruitof everytree,the newwineand the oilto the priestsat the chambersof the houseof our God,and the titheof our groundto the Levites,for the Levitesare they who receivethe tithesin allthe ruraltowns.
"You shall bringthe choicefirstfruitsof your soilinto the houseof the LORDyour God."You are not to boila younggoatin the milkof its mother.
"You shall bringthe very firstof the firstfruitsof your soilinto the houseof the LORDyour God."You shall not boila younggoatin its mother'smilk."
"The firstof allthe firstfruitsof everykind and everycontributionof everykind, from allyour contributions,shall be for the priests;you shall also giveto the priestthe firstof your doughto cause a blessingto reston your house.
As an offeringof firstfruitsyou shall bringthem to the LORD,but they shall not ascendfor a soothingaromaon the altar.
Also ifyou bringa grain offeringof earlyripenedthingsto the LORD,you shall bringfreshheadsof grainroastedin the fire,gritsof newgrowth,for the grain offeringof your earlyripenedthings.
"Speakto the sonsof Israeland sayto them, 'Whenyou enterthe landwhichI am going to giveto you and reapits harvest,then you shall bringin the sheafof the firstfruitsof your harvestto the priest.
The priestshall then wavethem with the breadof the firstfruitsfor a waveofferingwith twolambsbeforethe LORD;they are to be holyto the LORDfor the priest.
From the firstof your doughyou shall giveto the LORDan offeringthroughout your generations.
"Allthe bestof the freshoiland allthe bestof the freshwineand of the grain,the firstfruitsof those whichthey giveto the LORD,I givethem to you.
"But seekfirstHis kingdomand His righteousness,and allthese thingswill be addedto you.
Ifthe first piece[of dough] is holy,the lumpis also;and ifthe rootis holy,the branchesare too.
But nowChristhas been raisedfrom the dead,the first fruitsof thosewho are asleep.
"You shall surelytitheallthe producefrom whatyou sow,which comesout of the fieldeveryyear.
"You shall eatin the presenceof the LORDyour God,at the placewhereHe choosesto establishHis name,the titheof your grain,your newwine,your oil,and the firstbornof your herdand your flock,sothat you may learnto fearthe LORDyour Godalways.
"You shall celebratethe Feastof Boothssevendaysafter you have gatheredin from your threshingfloorand your winevat;
In the exercise of His willHe brought us forthby the wordof truth,sothat we would be a kindof first fruitsamong His creatures.
Theseare the ones who have not been defiledwith women,for they have kept themselveschaste.These[are] the ones who followthe LambwhereverHe goes.Thesehave been purchasedfrom amongmenas first fruitsto Godand to the Lamb.
