Deuteronomy 33:6–25

⁶“Let the people of Reuben live and not die,

but let the people be few.”

⁷Moses said this about the people of Judah:

“Lord, listen to Judah’s prayer;

bring them back to their people.

They defend themselves with their hands.

Help them fight their enemies!”

⁸Moses said this about the people of Levi:

“Lord, your Thummim and Urim belong

to Levi, whom you love.

Lord, you tested him at Massah

and argued with him at the waters of Meribah.

⁹He said about his father and mother,

‘I don’t care about them.’

He did not treat his brothers as favorites

or give special favors to his children,

but he protected your word

and guarded your agreement.

¹⁰He teaches your laws to the people of Jacob

and your teachings to the people of Israel.

He burns incense before you

and makes whole burnt offerings on your altar.

¹¹Lord, make them strong;

be pleased with the work they do.

Defeat those who attack them,

and don’t let their enemies rise up again.”

¹²Moses said this about the people of Benjamin:

“The Lord’s loved ones will lie down in safety,

because he protects them all day long.

The ones he loves rest with him.”

¹³Moses said this about the people of Joseph:

“May the Lord bless their land with wonderful dew from heaven,

with water from the springs below,

¹⁴with the best fruits that the sun brings,

and with the best fruits that the moon brings.

¹⁵Let the old mountains give the finest crops,

and let the everlasting hills give the best fruits.

¹⁶Let the full earth give the best fruits,

and let the Lord who lived in the burning bush be pleased.

May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph,

on the forehead of the one who was blessed among his brothers.

¹⁷Joseph has the majesty of a firstborn bull;

he is as strong as a wild ox.

He will stab other nations,

even those nations far away.

These are the ten thousands of Ephraim,

and these are the thousands of Manasseh.”

¹⁸Moses said this about the people of Zebulun:

“Be happy when you go out, Zebulun,

and be happy in your tents, Issachar.

¹⁹They will call the people to the mountain,

and there they will offer the right sacrifices.

They will do well from all that is in the sea,

and they will do well from the treasures hidden in the sand on the shore.”

²⁰Moses said this about the people of Gad:

“Praise God who gives Gad more land!

Gad lives there like a lion,

who tears off arms and heads.

²¹They chose the best land for themselves.

They received a large share, like that given to an officer.

When the leaders of the people gathered,

the people of Gad did what the Lord said was right,

and they judged Israel fairly.”

²²Moses said this about the people of Dan:

“Dan is like a lion’s cub,

who jumps out of Bashan.”

²³Moses said this about the people of Naphtali:

“Naphtali enjoys special kindnesses,

and they are full of the Lord’s blessings.

Take as your own the west and south.”

²⁴Moses said this about the people of Asher:

“Asher is the most blessed of the sons;

let him be his brothers’ favorite.

Let him bathe his feet in olive oil.

²⁵Your gates will have locks of iron and bronze,

and you will be strong as long as you live.