1. This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the people of Israel before his death:
2. “The lord came from Mount Sinaiand dawned upon us from Mount Seir;he shone forth from Mount Paranand came from Meribah-kadeshwith flaming fire at his right hand.
3. Indeed, he loves his people;all his holy ones are in his hands.They follow in his stepsand accept his teaching.
4. Moses gave us the lord’s instruction,the special possession of the people of Israel.
5. The lord became king in Israel—when the leaders of the people assembled,when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.”
6. Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben:“Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out,though they are few in number.”
7. Moses said this about the tribe of Judah:“O lord, hear the cry of Judahand bring them together as a people.Give them strength to defend their cause;help them against their enemies!”
8. Moses said this about the tribe of Levi:“O lord, you have given your Thummim and Urim—the sacred lots—to your faithful servants the Levites.You put them to the test at Massahand struggled with them at the waters of Meribah.
9. The Levites obeyed your wordand guarded your covenant.They were more loyal to youthan to their own parents.They ignored their relativesand did not acknowledge their own children.
10. They teach your regulations to Jacob;they give your instructions to Israel.They present incense before youand offer whole burnt offerings on the altar.
11. Bless the ministry of the Levites, O lord,and accept all the work of their hands.Hit their enemies where it hurts the most;strike down their foes so they never rise again.”
12. Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin:“The people of Benjamin are loved by the lordand live in safety beside him.He surrounds them continuouslyand preserves them from every harm.”
13. Moses said this about the tribes of Joseph:“May their land be blessed by the lordwith the precious gift of dew from the heavensand water from beneath the earth;
14. with the rich fruit that grows in the sun,and the rich harvest produced each month;
15. with the finest crops of the ancient mountains,and the abundance from the everlasting hills;
16. with the best gifts of the earth and its bounty,and the favor of the one who appeared in the burning bush.May these blessings rest on Joseph’s head,crowning the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17. Joseph has the majesty of a young bull;he has the horns of a wild ox.He will gore distant nations,even to the ends of the earth.This is my blessing for the multitudes of Ephraimand the thousands of Manasseh.”
18. Moses said this about the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar:“May the people of Zebulun prosper in their travels.May the people of Issachar prosper at home in their tents.
19. They summon the people to the mountainto offer proper sacrifices there.They benefit from the riches of the seaand the hidden treasures in the sand.”