20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them;w I am your share and your inheritancex among the Israelites.

21 “I give to the Levites all the tithesy in Israel as their inheritancez in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.a 22 From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.b 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinancec for the generations to come.d They will receive no inheritancee among the Israelites.f 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.g That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’ ”

25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give youh as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.i 27 Your offering will be reckonedj to you as grain from the threshing floork or juice from the winepress.l 28 In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithesm you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. 29 You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

30 “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.n 31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.o 32 By presenting the best partp of it you will not be guilty in this matter;q then you will not defile the holy offeringsr of the Israelites, and you will not die.’ ”