Deuteronomy 33
1 This is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
The following is the blessing that Moses the man of God gave to the Israelites before he died.
2 He said, "YHWH came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon us. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
He said, The Lord came from Mount Sinai and shone on us from Mount Seir; he blazed out from Mount Paran coming with ten thousand of holy ones, holding flaming fire at his right hand.
3 Yes, he loves the people. All his holy ones are in your hand. They sat down at your feet; each receives your words.
How much you love the people; you hold all the holy ones in your hand. They sit down at your feet to listen to your words:
4 Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
the law that Moses delivered to us that belongs to all the Israelites.
5 He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
The Lord became King in Israel when the people's leaders gathered, when the tribes of Israel assembled.
6 "Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few."
To Reuben he said, “May he live and not die, but may he only have a few men.”
7 This is for Judah. He said, "Hear, YHWH, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries."
To Judah he said: “Lord, please hear the cry of Judah and reunite him with his people. Even though he fights for himself, may you help him against his enemies.”
8 Of Levi he said, "Give to Levi your Thummim and your Urim to your faithful one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah;
To Levi he said: “Your Thummim were given to Levi and your Urim to those dedicated to God, the ones you tested at Massah and argued with at the waters of Meribah.
9 who said of his father, and of his mother, 'I have not seen him;' Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he know his own children: For they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
Levi said that he didn't pay attention to his father and mother, that he didn't acknowledge his brothers, and that he didn't recognize his children. The Levites did what you said and kept your agreement.
10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.
They will teach your regulations to Jacob and your law to Israel. They will place incense before you, and sacrifice whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 YHWH, bless his substance. Accept the work of his hands. Strike the loins of those who rise against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again."
Lord, please bless what they have, and accept their service for you. Destroy those who attack them; make sure their enemies never rise again.”
12 Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of YHWH shall dwell in safety by him. He covers him all the day long. He dwells between his shoulders."
To Benjamin he said: “May the one the Lord loves be kept safe and secure in the Lord. The Lord always protects him, letting him rest on his shoulders.”
13 Of Joseph he said, "His land is blessed by YHWH, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,
To Joseph he said: “May the Lord bless his land with the best gifts of heaven—with the dew and water from the depths below;
14 with the choices fruits of the sun, and the bounteous yield of the months,
with the best crops ripened by the sun and the best produce of the seasons;
15 with the finest produce of the ancient mountains, and the abundance of the everlasting hills,
with the finest contributions of the ancient mountains and the best materials of the everlasting hills;
16 with the choice things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
with the best gifts of the land and everything in it, along with the appreciation of the one who was in the burning bush. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph like a crown for this prince among his brothers.
17 A firstborn bull, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he shall push all of the peoples, to the farthest parts of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh."
He is as majestic as a firstborn bull; his horns are like those of a wild ox. He will use them to gore the nations, driving them to the ends of the earth. The horns represent the ten thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 Of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
To Zebulun he said: “Celebrate, Zebulun, in your travels and Issachar, in your tents.
19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand."
They will summon the peoples to a mountain; will offer the appropriate sacrifices there. They will enjoy the rich produce of the seas and from trading on the seashores.”
20 Of Gad he said, "He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.
To Gad he said: “Blessed is he who makes Gad's territory larger! Gad is like a lion lying in wait, ready to rip off an arm or a head.
21 He provided the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. He came with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of YHWH, his ordinances with Israel."
He chose the best land for himself, for he was allocated a ruler's share. He met with the people's leaders; he did what the Lord said was right, following the Lord's regulations for Israel.”
22 Of Dan he said, "Dan is a lion's cub that leaps out of Bashan."
To Dan he said: “Dan is a young lion that leaps out of Bashan.”
23 Of Naphtali he said, "Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the blessing of YHWH, Possess the west and the south."
To Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is really favored, full of the Lord's blessing. He shall take over the land to the west and south.”
24 Of Asher he said, "Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.
To Asher he said: “May Asher be blessed more than all the other sons; may he be favored above his brothers and bathe his feet in olive oil.
25 Your bars shall be iron and bronze. As your days, so your strength will be.
May the bolts of your gate be strong as iron and bronze, and may you be strong all your life.”
26 "There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his majesty through the skies.
There is no one like the God of Israel, who rides across the heavens to come to help you; who rides the clouds in majesty.
27 The God of old is a dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, 'Destroy.'
The eternal God is your home, and he holds you up with his everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy ahead of you, and gives the order, “Destroy him!”
28 Israel dwells in safety; the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew.
As a result Israel lives in peace; Jacob has no trouble in a country of grain and new wine, where the heavens drip with dew.
29 You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by YHWH, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency. Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places."
How blessed you are, Israel! Is there anyone like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is the shield that protects you, the sword that gives you confidence. Your enemies will tremble before you, and you shall tread them underfoot.
