Chapter 18
1 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 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Yahweh is their inheritance , as he has spoken to them .
3 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 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 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 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 Yahweh his God , as all his brothers the Levites do , who stand there before Yahweh .
8 They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions.
9 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 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 someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard , or a necromancer .
12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh . Because of these abominations , Yahweh your God drives them out from before you .
13 You shall be blameless with Yahweh your God .
14 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 Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you , of your brothers, like me . You shall listen to him .
16 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 Yahweh said to me , " They have well said that which they have spoken .
18 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 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 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 You may say in your heart , " How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken ?"
22 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 .