Moses' Final Blessing on Israel

1This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites before his death. 2He said:

The LORD came from Sinai,

and dawned from Seir upon us;33.2 Gk Syr Vg Compare Tg: Heb upon them

he shone forth from Mount Paran.

With him were myriads of holy ones;33.2 Cn Compare Gk Sam Syr Vg: MT He came from Ribeboth-kodesh,

at his right, a host of his own.33.2 Cn Compare Gk: meaning of Heb uncertain

3Indeed, O favourite among33.3 Or O lover of the peoples,

all his holy ones were in your charge;

they marched at your heels,

accepted direction from you.

4Moses charged us with the law,

as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5There arose a king in Jeshurun,

when the leaders of the people assembled—

the united tribes of Israel.

6May Reuben live, and not die out,

even though his numbers are few.

7And this he said of Judah:

O LORD, give heed to Judah,

and bring him to his people;

strengthen his hands for him,33.7 Cn: Heb with his hands he contended

and be a help against his adversaries.

8And of Levi he said:

Give to Levi33.8 Q Ms Gk: MT lacks Give to Levi your Thummim,

and your Urim to your loyal one,

whom you tested at Massah,

with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah;

9who said of his father and mother,

‘I regard them not’;

he ignored his kin,

and did not acknowledge his children.

For they observed your word,

and kept your covenant.

10They teach Jacob your ordinances,

and Israel your law;

they place incense before you,

and whole burnt-offerings on your altar.

11Bless, O LORD, his substance,

and accept the work of his hands;

crush the loins of his adversaries,

of those that hate him, so that they do not rise again.

12Of Benjamin he said:

The beloved of the LORD rests in safety—

the High God33.12 Heb above him surrounds him all day long—

the beloved33.12 Heb he rests between his shoulders.

13And of Joseph he said:

Blessed by the LORD be his land,

with the choice gifts of heaven above,

and of the deep that lies beneath;

14with the choice fruits of the sun,

and the rich yield of the months;

15with the finest produce of the ancient mountains,

and the abundance of the everlasting hills;

16with the choice gifts of the earth and its fullness,

and the favour of the one who dwells on Sinai.33.16 Cn: Heb in the bush

Let these come on the head of Joseph,

on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

17A firstborn33.17 Q Ms Gk Syr Vg: MT His firstborn bull—majesty is his!

His horns are the horns of a wild ox;

with them he gores the peoples,

driving them to33.17 Cn: Heb the peoples, together the ends of the earth;

such are the myriads of Ephraim,

such the thousands of Manasseh.

18And of Zebulun he said:

Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out;

and Issachar, in your tents.

19They call peoples to the mountain;

there they offer the right sacrifices;

for they suck the affluence of the seas

and the hidden treasures of the sand.

20And of Gad he said:

Blessed be the enlargement of Gad!

Gad lives like a lion;

he tears at arm and scalp.

21He chose the best for himself,

for there a commander's allotment was reserved;

he came at the head of the people,

he executed the justice of the LORD,

and his ordinances for Israel.

22And of Dan he said:

Dan is a lion's whelp

that leaps forth from Bashan.

23And of Naphtali he said:

O Naphtali, sated with favour,

full of the blessing of the LORD,

possess the west and the south.

24And of Asher he said:

Most blessed of sons be Asher;

may he be the favourite of his brothers,

and may he dip his foot in oil.

25Your bars are iron and bronze;

and as your days, so is your strength.

26There is none like God, O Jeshurun,

who rides through the heavens to your help,

majestic through the skies.

27He subdues the ancient gods,33.27 Or The eternal God is a dwelling-place

shatters33.27 Cn: Heb from underneath the forces of old;33.27 Or the everlasting arms

he drove out the enemy before you,

and said, ‘Destroy!’

28So Israel lives in safety,

untroubled is Jacob's abode33.28 Or fountain

in a land of grain and wine,

where the heavens drop down dew.

29Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,

a people saved by the LORD,

the shield of your help,

and the sword of your triumph!

Your enemies shall come fawning to you,

and you shall tread on their backs.