New Living Translation

1 This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God (Elohim), gave to the people of Israel before his death: 2 “The LORD came from Mount Sinai<br>and dawned upon us from Mount Seir;<br>he shone forth from Mount Paran<br>and came from Meribah-kadesh<br>with flaming fire at his right hand.<br> 3 Indeed, he loves his people;<br>all his holy ones are in his hands.<br>They follow in his steps<br>and accept his teaching.<br> 4 Moses gave us the LORD’s instruction,<br>the special possession of the people of Israel.<br> 5 The LORD became king in Israel —<br>when the leaders of the people assembled,<br>when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.”<br> 6 Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben: “Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out,<br>though they are few in number.”<br> 7 Moses said this about the tribe of Judah: “O LORD, hear the cry of Judah<br>and bring them together as a people.<br>Give them strength to defend their cause;<br>help them against their enemies!”<br> 8 Moses said this about the tribe of Levi: “O LORD, you have given your Thummim and Urim — the sacred lots —<br>to your faithful servants the Levites.<br>You put them to the test at Massah<br>and struggled with them at the waters of Meribah.<br> 9 The Levites obeyed your word<br>and guarded your covenant.<br>They were more loyal to you<br>than to their own parents.<br>They ignored their relatives<br>and did not acknowledge their own children.<br> 10 They teach your regulations to Jacob;<br>they give your instructions to Israel.<br>They present incense before you<br>and offer whole burnt offerings on the altar.<br> 11 Bless the ministry of the Levites, O LORD,<br>and accept all the work of their hands.<br>Hit their enemies where it hurts the most;<br>strike down their foes so they never rise again.”<br> 12 Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: “The people of Benjamin are loved by the LORD<br>and live in safety beside him.<br>He surrounds them continuously<br>and preserves them from every harm.”<br> 13 Moses said this about the tribes of Joseph: “May their land be blessed by the LORD<br>with the precious gift of dew from the heavens<br>and water from beneath the earth;<br> 14 with the rich fruit that grows in the sun,<br>and the rich harvest produced each month;<br> 15 with the finest crops of the ancient mountains,<br>and the abundance from the everlasting hills;<br> 16 with the best gifts of the earth and its bounty,<br>and the favor of the one who appeared in the burning bush.<br>May these blessings rest on Joseph’s head,<br>crowning the brow of the prince among his brothers.<br> 17 Joseph has the majesty of a young bull;<br>he has the horns of a wild ox.<br>He will gore distant nations,<br>even to the ends of the earth.<br>This is my blessing for the multitudes of Ephraim<br>and the thousands of Manasseh.”<br> 18 Moses said this about the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar : “May the people of Zebulun prosper in their travels.<br>May the people of Issachar prosper at home in their tents.<br> 19 They summon the people to the mountain<br>to offer proper sacrifices there.<br>They benefit from the riches of the sea<br>and the hidden treasures in the sand.”<br> 20 Moses said this about the tribe of Gad: “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad’s territory!<br>Gad is poised there like a lion<br>to tear off an arm or a head.<br> 21 The people of Gad took the best land for themselves;<br>a leader’s share was assigned to them.<br>When the leaders of the people were assembled,<br>they carried out the LORD’s justice<br>and obeyed his regulations for Israel.”<br> 22 Moses said this about the tribe of Dan: “Dan is a lion’s cub,<br>leaping out from Bashan.”<br> 23 Moses said this about the tribe of Naphtali: “O Naphtali, you are rich in favor<br>and full of the LORD’s blessings;<br>may you possess the west and the south.”<br> 24 Moses said this about the tribe of Asher: “May Asher be blessed above other sons;<br>may he be esteemed by his brothers;<br>may he bathe his feet in olive oil.<br> 25 May the bolts of your gates be of iron and bronze;<br>may you be secure all your days.”<br> 26 “There is no one like the God (Elohim) of Israel.<br>He rides across the heavens to help you,<br>across the skies in majestic splendor.<br> 27 The eternal God (Elohim) is your refuge,<br>and his everlasting arms are under you.<br>He drives out the enemy before you;<br>he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’<br> 28 So Israel will live in safety,<br>prosperous Jacob in security,<br>in a land of grain and new wine,<br>while the heavens drop down dew.<br> 29 How blessed you are, O Israel!<br>Who else is like you, a people saved by the LORD?<br>He is your protecting shield<br>and your triumphant sword!<br>Your enemies will cringe before you,<br>and you will stomp on their backs!”<br>