Deuteronomy 33:6–25

⁶“May the tribe of Reuben live and not die out, 

though their people are few in number.” 

⁷This is what he said about the tribe of Judah: 

“Hear the cry of Judah, O Lord, 

and bring them to their people. 

They must defend themselves. 

Help them against their enemies.” 

⁸About the tribe of Levi he said, 

“Your Thummim and Urim^dbelong to your faithful people. 

You tested your people at Massah. 

You quarreled with them at the oasis of Meribah. 

⁹They said that they didn’t know their father and mother. 

They didn’t recognize their own brothers. 

They didn’t acknowledge their own children. 

But they obeyed your word 

and were faithful to the terms of your promise.^e

¹⁰They teach Jacob your rules 

and give Israel your teachings. 

They burn incense for you to smell 

and sacrifice burnt offerings on your altar. 

¹¹Lord, bless them with strength 

and be pleased with the work they do. 

Break the backs of those who attack them and hate them 

so that they can never get up again.” 

¹²About the tribe of Benjamin he said, 

“The Lord’s beloved people will live securely with him. 

The Lord will shelter them all day long, 

since he, too, lives on the mountain slopes.” 

¹³About the tribes of Joseph he said, 

“May the Lord bless their land with ⸤water,⸥ 

the best gift heaven can send, 

with dew and deep springs below the ground. 

¹⁴May the Lord bless their land with crops, 

the best gift the sun can give, 

the best produce of each month, 

¹⁵the finest fruits from the oldest mountains, 

the best from the ancient hills, 

¹⁶and the most plentiful crops of the earth. 

May the Lord bless their land with the favor 

of the one who was in the burning bush. 

May these blessings come to the tribes of Joseph. 

May they crown the people who are like princes in Israel. 

¹⁷They will be as majestic as a firstborn bull. 

Their horns will be like the horns of a wild ox. 

They will use them to push away nations 

including those at the ends of the earth. 

The tens of thousands from the tribe of Ephraim 

and the thousands from the tribe of Manasseh will be like this.” 

¹⁸About the tribe of Zebulun he said, 

“People of Zebulun, enjoy yourselves when you go to war, 

and you people of Issachar, enjoy yourselves when you stay at home. 

¹⁹They will invite nations to their mountain, 

and there they will offer the proper sacrifices. 

They will be nourished by the abundance from the seas 

and the treasures hidden in the sand.” 

²⁰About the tribe of Gad he said, 

“Blessed is the one who gives the people of Gad more land. 

They wait there like a lion. 

They can tear off an arm or a head. 

²¹They chose the best land for themselves. 

Indeed, a commander’s piece of land was reserved for them. 

They were leaders of the people 

and did for Israel what the Lord considers fair and honorable.” 

²²About the tribe of Dan he said, 

“The people of Dan are a lion cub. 

Out of Bashan they pounce ⸤on their enemies⸥.” 

²³About the tribe of Naphtali he said, 

“The people of Naphtali enjoy the Lord’s favor 

and are filled with the Lord’s blessings. 

They will take possession of the lake and the land south of it.” 

²⁴About the tribe of Asher he said, 

“The people of Asher are the most blessed of the sons of Israel. 

May they be the Israelites’ favorite tribe 

and wash their feet in olive oil. 

²⁵May the locks and bolts of your gates be made of iron and copper. 

May your strength last as long as you live.