Deuteronomii 33
1 Hæc est benedictio, qua benedixit Moyses, homo Dei, filiis Israel ante mortem suam.
The following is the blessing that Moses the man of God gave to the Israelites before he died.
2 Et ait: Dominus de Sinai venit, et de Seir ortus est nobis: apparuit de monte Pharan, et cum eo sanctorum millia. In dextera eius ignea lex.
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 Dilexit populos, omnes sancti in manu illius sunt: et qui appropinquant pedibus eius, accipient de doctrina illius.
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 Legem præcepit nobis Moyses, hereditatem multitudinis Iacob.
the law that Moses delivered to us that belongs to all the Israelites.
5 Erit apud rectissimum rex, congregatis principibus populi cum tribubus Israel.
The Lord became King in Israel when the people's leaders gathered, when the tribes of Israel assembled.
6 Vivat Ruben, et non moriatur, et sit parvus in numero.
To Reuben he said, “May he live and not die, but may he only have a few men.”
7 Hæc est Iudæ benedicio: Audi Domine vocem Iudæ, et ad populum suum introduc eum: manus eius pugnabunt pro eo, et adiutor illius contra adversarios eius erit.
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 Levi quoque ait: Perfectio tua, et doctrina tua viro sancto tuo, quem probasti in tentatione, et iudicasti ad Aquas contradictionis.
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 Qui dixit patri suo, et matri suæ: Nescio vos; et fratribus suis: Ignoro vos: et nescierunt filios suos. Hi custodierunt eloquium tuum, et pactum tuum servaverunt,
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 iudicia tua o Iacob, et legem tuam o Israel: ponent thymiama in furore tuo, et holocaustum super altare tuum.
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 Benedic Domine fortitudini eius, et opera manuum illius suscipe. Percute dorsa inimicorum eius: et qui oderunt eum, non consurgant.
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 Et Beniamin ait: Amantissimus Domini habitabit confidenter in eo: quasi in thalamo tota die morabitur, et inter humeros illius requiescet.
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 Ioseph quoque ait: De benedictione Domini terra eius, de pomis cæli, et rore, atque abysso subiacente,
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 de pomis fructuum solis ac lunæ,
with the best crops ripened by the sun and the best produce of the seasons;
15 de vertice antiquorum montium, de pomis collium æternorum:
with the finest contributions of the ancient mountains and the best materials of the everlasting hills;
16 et de frugibus terræ, et de plenitudine eius. Benedictio illius, qui apparuit in rubo, veniat super caput Ioseph, et super verticem Nazaræi inter fratres suos.
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 Quasi primogeniti tauri pulchritudo eius, cornua rhinocerotis cornua illius: in ipsis ventilabit Gentes usque ad terminos terræ. Hæ sunt multitudines Ephraim: et hæc millia Manasse.
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 Et Zabulon ait: Lætare Zabulon in exitu tuo, et Issachar in tabernaculis tuis.
To Zebulun he said: “Celebrate, Zebulun, in your travels and Issachar, in your tents.
19 Populos vocabunt ad montem: ibi immolabunt victimas iustitiæ. Qui inundationem maris quasi lac sugent, et thesauros absconditos arenarum.
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 Et Gad ait: Benedictus in latitudine Gad: quasi leo requievit, cepitque brachium et verticem.
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 Et vidit principatum suum, quod in parte sua doctor esset repositus: qui fuit cum principibus populi, et fecit iustitias Domini, et iudicium suum cum 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 Dan quoque ait: Dan catulus leonis, fluet largiter de Basan.
To Dan he said: “Dan is a young lion that leaps out of Bashan.”
23 Et Nephthali dixit: Nephthali abundantia perfruetur, et plenus erit benedictionibus Domini: mare et meridiem possidebit.
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 Aser quoque ait: Benedictus in filiis Aser, sit placens fratribus suis, et tingat in oleo pedem suum.
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 Ferrum et æs calceamentum eius. Sicut dies iuventutis tuæ, ita et senectus tua.
May the bolts of your gate be strong as iron and bronze, and may you be strong all your life.”
26 Non est deus alius ut Deus rectissimi: ascensor cæli auxiliator tuus. Magnificentia eius discurrunt nubes,
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 habitaculum eius sursum, et subter brachia sempiterna: eiiciet a facie tua inimicum, dicetque: Conterere.
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 Habitabit Israel confidenter, et solus: oculus Iacob in terra frumenti et vini, cælique caligabunt rore.
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 Beatus es tu Israel: quis similis tui popule, qui salvaris in Domino? Scutum auxilii tui, et gladius gloriæ tuæ: negabunt te inimici tui, et tu eorum colla calcabis.
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.
