Definition: Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of [mine] house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten [them]:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Deuteronomy 26:13. It's a really important part of how God wants us to live as a community – and it’s about responsibility and obedience. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, it’s saying: “I understand that I have messed up, and I need to do better.” Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God…” – This means you're acknowledging that you've done something wrong. It’s a moment of admitting a mistake. “…I have brought away the hallowed things out of [mine] house…” – “Hallowed things” refers to sacred or important things, like a temple, a religious ceremony, or even just a feeling of reverence and importance. "Bringing them out" means you've taken something that shouldn’t be taken. “…and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger…” – This is where it gets more specific. It’s talking about giving things to people who aren’t part of our family or community. The Levites were priests and helpers in the temple. The “stranger” refers to someone who isn't part of our group. The idea is that we need to be kind and considerate of everyone, even those who are different from us. “…to the fatherless, and to the widow…” – This means giving things to people who are struggling or without support. It’s about showing compassion and care for those who are vulnerable. “according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me:” – This is crucially important . It's saying, “I understand that I have broken your rules/laws.” It shows you take responsibility for what happened. “…I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten [them]:” - This is a really key part! "Not transgressed" means you haven’t done anything really wrong. “Forgotten” means you remember your rules and are trying to follow them. So, putting it all together: The speaker is saying, "I understand I've made a mistake, and I'm taking responsibility for it. I'm showing that I know and respect the rules you’ve given me, and I want to live in a way that honors you." Why is this important? This verse shows us that God values our obedience and our relationships with others. It’s about being respectful, kind, and thoughtful – qualities that are essential for a good community. It's about recognizing that we're all connected and that caring for others is part of living right. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Give an example of how this principle applies in our lives? Talk about the historical context of this passage?