Deuteronomy 33

Moses Blesses the Tribes

33:1-29^Ref — Ge 49:1–28

This is the blessing^a that Moses the man of God^b pronounced on the Israelites before his death. He said:

“The Lord came from Sinai^c

and dawned over them from Seir;^d

he shone forth^e from Mount Paran.^f

He came with myriads of holy ones^g

from the south, from his mountain slopes.

Surely it is you who love^h the people;

all the holy ones are in your hand.ⁱ

At your feet they all bow down,^j

and from you receive instruction,

the law that Moses gave us,^k

the possession of the assembly of Jacob.^l

He was king^m over Jeshurunⁿ

when the leaders of the people assembled,

along with the tribes of Israel.

“Let Reuben live and not die,

nor his people be few.”^o

And this he said about Judah:^p

“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah;

bring him to his people.

With his own hands he defends his cause.

Oh, be his help against his foes!”

About Levi^q he said:

“Your Thummim and Urim^r belong

to your faithful servant.^s

You tested^t him at Massah;

you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.^u

He said of his father and mother,^v

‘I have no regard for them.’

He did not recognize his brothers

or acknowledge his own children,

but he watched over your word

and guarded your covenant.^w

He teaches^x your precepts to Jacob

and your law to Israel.^y

He offers incense before you^z

and whole burnt offerings on your altar.^a

Bless all his skills, Lord,

and be pleased with the work of his hands.^b

Strike down those who rise against him,

his foes till they rise no more.”

About Benjamin^c he said:

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,^d

for he shields him all day long,^e

and the one the Lord loves^f rests between his shoulders.^g”

About Joseph^h he said:

“May the Lord bless his land

with the precious dew from heaven above

and with the deep waters that lie below;ⁱ

with the best the sun brings forth

and the finest the moon can yield;

with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains^j

and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;

with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness

and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.^k

Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,

on the brow of the prince among his brothers.^l

In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;

his horns^m are the horns of a wild ox.ⁿ

With them he will gore^o the nations,

even those at the ends of the earth.

Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;^p

such are the thousands of Manasseh.^q”

About Zebulun^r he said:

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,

and you, Issachar,^s in your tents.

They will summon peoples to the mountain^t

and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous;^u

they will feast on the abundance of the seas,^v

on the treasures hidden in the sand.”

About Gad^w he said:

“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!^x

Gad lives there like a lion,

tearing at arm or head.

He chose the best land for himself;^y

the leader’s portion was kept for him.^z

When the heads of the people assembled,

he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,^a

and his judgments concerning Israel.”

About Dan^b he said:

“Dan is a lion’s cub,

springing out of Bashan.”

About Naphtali^c he said:

“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord

and is full of his blessing;

he will inherit southward to the lake.”

About Asher^d he said:

“Most blessed of sons is Asher;

let him be favored by his brothers,

and let him bathe his feet in oil.^e

The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,^f

and your strength will equal your days.^g

“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,^h

who ridesⁱ on the heavens to help you^j

and on the clouds^k in his majesty.^l

The eternal^m God is your refuge,ⁿ

and underneath are the everlasting^o arms.

He will drive out your enemies before you,^p

saying, ‘Destroy them!’^q

So Israel will live in safety;^r

Jacob will dwell secure

in a land of grain and new wine,

where the heavens drop dew.^s

Blessed are you, Israel!^t

Who is like you,^u

a people saved by the Lord?^v

He is your shield and helper^w

and your glorious sword.

Your enemies will cower before you,

and you will tread on their heights.^x”