Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.

1This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death.

2He said: The LORD came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; he shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones, with lightning from his right hand for them.

2He said, “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand.

3Indeed he loves the people. All your holy ones are in your hand, and they assemble at your feet. Each receives your words.

3Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you,

4Moses gave us instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

4when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5So he became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel.

5Thus the LORD became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.

6Let Reuben live and not die though his people become few.

6“Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few.”

7He said this about Judah: LORD, hear Judah's cry and bring him to his people. He fights for his cause with his own hands, but may you be a help against his foes.

7And this he said of Judah: “Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries.”

8He said about Levi: Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful one; you tested him at Massah and contended with him at the Waters of Meribah.

8And of Levi he said, “Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah;

9He said about his father and mother, "I do not regard them." He disregarded his brothers and didn't acknowledge his sons, for they kept your word and maintained your covenant.

9who said of his father and mother, ‘I regard them not’; he disowned his brothers and ignored his children. For they observed your word and kept your covenant.

10They will teach your ordinances to Jacob and your instruction to Israel; they will set incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

10They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

11LORD, bless his possessions, and accept the work of his hands. Break the back of his adversaries and enemies, so that they cannot rise again.

11Bless, O LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”

12He said about Benjamin: The LORD's beloved rests securely on him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on his shoulders.

12Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.”

13He said about Joseph: May his land be blessed by the LORD with the dew of heaven's bounty and the watery depths that lie beneath;

13And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath,

14with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons;

14with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months,

15with the best products of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the eternal hills;

15with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills,

16with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it; and with the favor of him who appeared in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.

16with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers.

17His firstborn bull has splendor, and horns like those of a wild ox; he gores all the peoples with them to the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.

17A firstborn bull—he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”

18He said about Zebulun: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.

18And of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents.

19They summon the peoples to a mountain; there they offer acceptable sacrifices. For they draw from the wealth of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.

19They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20He said about Gad: The one who enlarges Gad's territory will be blessed. He lies down like a lion and tears off an arm or even a head.

20And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp.

21He chose the best part for himself, because a ruler's portion was assigned there for him. He came with the leaders of the people; he carried out the LORD's justice and his ordinances for Israel.

21He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander’s portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments for Israel.”

22He said about Dan: Dan is a young lion, leaping out of Bashan.

22And of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps from Bashan.”

23He said about Naphtali: Naphtali, enjoying approval, full of the LORD's blessing, take possession to the west and the south.

23And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the lake and the south.”

24He said about Asher: May Asher be the most blessed of the sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in olive oil.

24And of Asher he said, “Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil.

25May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and your strength last as long as you live.

25Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.

26There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, the clouds in his majesty.

26“There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty.

27The God of old is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you and commands, "Destroy!"

27The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’

28So Israel dwells securely; Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine; even his skies drip with dew.

28So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew.

29How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.

29Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.