Behold: a stylistic feature, without much meaning in this context. In some languages an attention-getting word like “Look, LORD, I bring” may be used. Most modern translations such as New Revised Standard Version have “So now I bring….” Contemporary English Version has “Now, LORD, I bring….”

The first of the fruit of the ground: see verse 2.

Which thou, O LORD, hast given me: the second person of direct address should be retained in translation (unlike Good News Translation). And it will be good to begin the verse as follows, “So now, LORD, I bring to you the first share of the crops that you have given me.”

We should notice that here the single quotation mark in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation closes the man’s confession, which began in verse 5.

You shall set it down before the LORD your God: here the offerer himself does it, not the priest (as in verse 4); before the LORD your God probably means “in front of the LORD’s altar” (Contemporary English Version).

Worship before the LORD your God: here also, the sense is to worship in front of the altar, or simply “bow down before the LORD your God” (New International Version, New Revised Standard Version). New Jerusalem Bible has “prostrate yourself in the presence of Yahweh your God.” We can say either “bow down” or “worship”; perhaps “worship” is to be preferred.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .