Deuteronomy 33
Moses’s Blessings
1This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.23He said: The Lord came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; he shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones, with lightning from his right hand for them.45Indeed he loves the people. All your holy ones are in your hand, and they assemble at your feet. Each receives your words.6
7Moses gave us instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob.8
9So he became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel.10
11Let Reuben live and not die though his people become few.12
13He said this about Judah: Lord, hear Judah’s cry and bring him to his people. He fights for his cause with his own hands, but may you be a help against his foes.14
15He said about Levi: Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful one; you tested him at Massah and contended with him at the Waters of Meribah.16
17He said about his father and mother, “I do not regard them.” He disregarded his brothers and didn’t acknowledge his sons, for they kept your word and maintained your covenant.18
19They will teach your ordinances to Jacob and your instruction to Israel; they will set incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.20
21Lord, bless his possessions, and accept the work of his hands. Break the back of his adversaries and enemies, so that they cannot rise again.22
23He said about Benjamin: The Lord’s beloved rests securely on him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on his shoulders.24
25He said about Joseph: May his land be blessed by the Lord with the dew of heaven’s bounty and the watery depths that lie beneath;26
27with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons;28
29with the best products of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the eternal hills;30
31with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it; and with the favor of him who appeared in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.32
33His firstborn bull has splendor, and horns like those of a wild ox; he gores all the peoples with them to the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.34
35He said about Zebulun: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.36
37They summon the peoples to a mountain; there they offer acceptable sacrifices. For they draw from the wealth of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.38
39He said about Gad: The one who enlarges Gad’s territory will be blessed. He lies down like a lion and tears off an arm or even a head.40
41He chose the best part for himself, because a ruler’s portion was assigned there for him. He came with the leaders of the people; he carried out the Lord’s justice and his ordinances for Israel.42
43He said about Dan: Dan is a young lion, leaping out of Bashan.44
45He said about Naphtali: Naphtali, enjoying approval, full of the Lord’s blessing, take possession to the west and the south.46
47He said about Asher: May Asher be the most blessed of the sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in olive oil.48
49May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and your strength last as long as you live.50
51There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, the clouds in his majesty.52
53The God of old is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you and commands, “Destroy!”54
55So Israel dwells securely; Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine; even his skies drip with dew.56
57How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.58