1This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites before he died.
2He said, “Yahweh came from Sinai and rose over Seir for them. He shone from Mount Paran. He came with tens of thousands of holy ones; at his right hand was a fiery law for them.
3Yes, he loves his people. All his holy ones are in your hand. They sit at your feet, and each receives your words.
4Moses gave us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
5He was king in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
6“May Reuben live and not die, and may his men not be few.”
7This is for Judah: He said, “Hear, Yahweh, the cry of Judah. Bring him to his people. With his own hands he fought for himself. May you be a help against his enemies.”
8About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your faithful servant, whom you tested at Massah, and with whom you argued at the waters of Meribah.
9He said of his father and mother, ‘I don’t see him.’ He didn’t recognize his brothers or know his own children, because they obeyed your word and kept your covenant.
10They will teach your regulations to Jacob and your law to Israel. They will place incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11Yahweh, bless his abilities and accept the work of his hands. Strike down the hips of those who rise against him and those who hate him, so that they may not rise again.”
12About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of Yahweh will live securely by him. He protects him all day long, and he lives between his shoulders.”
13About Joseph he said, “May Yahweh bless his land with the precious things of the heavens, with the dew, and with the deep waters that lie beneath,
14with the precious fruits produced by the sun, with the precious things yielded by the moon,
15with the best things from the ancient mountains, with the precious things from the everlasting hills,
16with the precious things of the earth and its abundance, and with the favor of the one who lived in the burning bush. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of the one who was set apart from his brothers.
17The firstborn of his herd possesses majesty. His horns are like the horns of a wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the earth. These are the tens of thousands of Ephraim; these are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18About Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.
19They will call peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they will draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand.”
20Moses said about Gad, “Blessed is the one who gives Gad more territory. Gad lives like a lioness, tearing off an arm, and even the crown of a head.”
21“Gad chose the best land for himself first, because the leader’s share was reserved for him. He came with the leaders of the people. He carried out Yahweh’s justice and His laws with Israel.”
22About Dan, Moses said, “Dan is like a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.”
23About Naphtali, Moses said, “Naphtali is rich in favor, full of Yahweh’s blessing. He will take possession of the west and the south.”
24About Asher, Moses said, “Asher is blessed with many children. May he be well-liked by his brothers. May he dip his foot in oil.”
25“Your city gates will be made of iron and bronze. Your strength will last as long as you live.”
26“People of Israel, there is no one like God, who rides through the heavens to help you, and in His majesty, rides on the clouds.”
27“The eternal God is your home. His everlasting arms support you. He drove out your enemy before you and commanded, ‘Destroy!’”
28“Israel lives securely; Jacob’s spring is his alone, in a land of grain and new wine. Indeed, his heavens drop down dew.”
29“You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh? He is your helping shield and your glorious sword. Your enemies will bow down to you, and you will walk over their high places.”