Deuteronomy, 33

1. And this [is] the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

1. This is the blessing that Moses gave to the children of Israel before he died. He said:

2. And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand [went] a fiery law for them.

2. "Yahweh has come from Sinai; he rises above the horizon of Seir for his people. He has shone from Mount Paran; he has come to Meribah of Kadesh for them; his midday radiance has reached Ashdot.

3. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints [are] in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; [every one] shall receive of thy words.

3. Yahweh loves these tribes and his hand protects his holy ones; they bow before his feet, waiting for his teaching.

4. Moses commanded us a law, [even] the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

4.

5. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people [and] the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

5. He came to Israel as king, and made himself the inheritance of the children of Israel when the leaders assembled and the tribes of Israel gathered together.

6. Let Reuben live, and not die; and let [not] his men be few.

6. Let Reuben live and not die, nor let his men be few."

7. And this [is the blessing] of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help [to him] from his enemies.

7. This is the blessing for Judah: "Listen, Yahweh, to the voice of Judah, and let him be with his people. His hands will fight for him and will help him against his opponents."

8. And of Levi he said, [Let] thy Thummim and thy Urim [be] with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, [and with] whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

8. He said of Levi: "You have given, O Yahweh, your Thummim and Urim to him who loves you, whom you tested at Massah and reproached at Meribah.

9. Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

9. He said to his parents 'I do not know you,' and disowned his brothers and sisters and children. He has observed your words and kept your Covenant.

10. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

10. They teach Jacob your decrees, Israel your Law. They offer you incense and make sacrifices on your altar.

11. Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

11. Bless, O Yahweh, his courage and accept his service. Strike the back of his foes, that his enemies may not rise against him anymore."

12. [And] of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; [and the LORD] shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

12. He said of Benjamin: "Beloved of Yahweh, you put your trust in him who protects you, and you dwell in his hills."

13. And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD [be] his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

13. He said to Joseph: "Your land has received the blessings of Yahweh, the dew from heaven and the waters that gush forth from the deep,

14. And for the precious fruits [brought forth] by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,

14. the sun-ripened fruits and the liberal produce of the months,

15. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

15. the best of the ancient mountains and the everlasting hills, the generous land and all that is in it.

16. And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and [for] the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let [the blessing] come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him [that was] separated from his brethren.

16. May the blessing of him who arose in the bush descend upon the head of Joseph, for he is the chosen one among his brothers.

17. His glory [is like] the firstling of his bullock, and his horns [are like] the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they [are] the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they [are] the thousands of Manasseh.

17. Joseph is his firstling bull, glory to him! His horns are those of a wild ox, with which he strikes all the people at the same time. See the multitudes of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh!"

18. And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

18. He said to Zebulun: "Rejoice, Zebulun, when you journey. Rejoice, Issachar, in your tents.

19. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck [of] the abundance of the seas, and [of] treasures hid in the sand.

19. They call the peoples to the sacred mountain for the prescribed sacrifices. They enjoy the riches of the sea and the hidden treasures of the sand."

20. And of Gad he said, Blessed [be] he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.

20. He said of Gad: "Blessed be he who enlarges Gad. Like a lioness, he couches and tears the arm and head.

21. And he provided the first part for himself, because there, [in] a portion of the lawgiver, [was he] seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.

21. He chooses the best part, the part reserved for the leader. He has led the people. He has fulfilled the justice of Yahweh and his decisions in favor of Israel."

22. And of Dan he said, Dan [is] a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

22. He said of Dan: "Dan is a lion's cub that leaps forth from Bashan."

23. And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.

23. He said of Naphtali: "Naphtali is filled with favors, filled with the blessing of Yahweh. May your land reach to the south and to the sea!"

24. And of Asher he said, [Let] Asher [be] blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.

24. He said of Asher: "May Asher be blessed among the sons. May he be preferred to his brothers and let him put his feet in oil.

25. Thy shoes [shall be] iron and brass; and as thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be].

25. May his fastening bars be iron and bronze. May you be strong as long as you live.

26. [There is] none like unto the God of Jeshurun, [who] rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

26. There is none like our God, O Israel, who walks above the heavens, riding above the clouds, and comes to help you in his zeal.

27. The eternal God [is thy] refuge, and underneath [are] the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy [them].

27. The eternal God is a refuge; from eternity he frees you with his arm. He drives your enemy away before you and says to you: 'Destroy him.'

28. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob [shall be] upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

28. Israel dwells in safety. The fountain of Jacob flows in the land of wheat and wine, and dew comes from heaven.

29. Happy [art] thou, O Israel: who [is] like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who [is] the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

29. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh? He is the shield that protects you, the sword that gives you victory! Your enemies shall flee from you, but you, you are outstanding in everything."