Holman Christian Standard Bible | International 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 Israelis 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. Rising from Seir upon us, he shone forth from Mount Paran, accompanied by a myriad of his holy ones, with flaming fire from his right hand for them. |
3Indeed He loves the people. All Your holy ones are in Your hand, and they assemble at Your feet. Each receives Your words. | 3Indeed, lover of people, all of his holy ones are in your control. They gather at your feet to do as you have instructed. |
4Moses gave us instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob. | 4Moses commanded with the Law, an inheritance for the community of Jacob. |
5So He became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel. | 5The LORD was king of Jeshurun when the leaders of the people— all the tribes of Israel—gathered together." |
6Let Reuben live and not die though his people become few. | 6"May Reuben live and not die, though his numbers are 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. | 7He declared this about Judah: "Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah and return him to his people. With his own strength he fights for himself, and you will be of assistance against his enemies." |
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. | 8About Levi he said: "Let your Thummim and Urim be with the man to whom you showed gracious love, whom you tested at Massah and with whom you struggled 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. | 9the one who told his mother and father, 'I don't know them,' and who would neither acknowledge his brothers nor know his own children. For they kept your word and guarded 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 will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will offer incense as a pleasant aroma to you and a whole burnt offering upon your altar. |
11 LORD, bless his possessions, and accept the work of his hands. Smash the loins of his adversaries and enemies, so that they cannot rise again. | 11LORD, bless his substance and approve the work that he undertakes. Shatter the legs of those who oppose against him; may those who hate him stand no more." |
12He said about Benjamin: The LORD's beloved rests securely on Him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on His shoulders. | 12About Benjamin he said: "The beloved of the LORD will live confidently, the Most High protecting him all day long, and resting in his bosom. " |
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; | 13About Joseph he said: "May the blessing of the LORD be on his land: dew from the choicest of the heavens, and from the depths beneath; |
14with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons; | 14from the choicest products of the sun, the rich fruit of the harvest moon, |
15with the best products of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the eternal hills; | 15the choicest portion of the eternal mountains, and the best 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 crown of the prince of his brothers. | 16from the choicest of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of the one who lived in the burning bush. May blessing rest on Joseph's head, and on the crown of the head of the one set apart from 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. | 17May the firstborn of his bull be honorable to him, and may his horns be those of a wild ox. With them may he push people all together, to the ends of the earth. These are the myriads of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh." |
18He said about Zebulun: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents. | 18About Zebulun he said: "Zebulun, rejoice as you go out and Issachar, in being inside 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 will call the peoples to the mountain, and there they will offer righteous sacrifices, for they'll draw from the abundance of the sea and from 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. | 20About Gad he said: "Blessed be the one who enlarges Gad! Like a roaring lion, he crouches, tearing 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 part for himself, when the leader's portion was assigned. He came at the head of the people, carrying out the LORD'S justice and his ordinances concerning Israel." |
22He said about Dan: Dan is a young lion, leaping out of Bashan. | 22About Dan he said: "Dan is a lion's cub, leaping forth from Bashan." |
23He said about Naphtali: Naphtali, enjoying approval, full of the LORD's blessing, take possession to the west and the south. | 23About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali, full of favor and the LORD's blessing, take possession of the west and 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. | 24About Asher he said: "May Asher be blessed, along with his descendants, may his brothers be pleased with him, may he dip his feet in oil, |
25May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and your strength last as long as you live. | 25may your bolts be made of iron and bronze, and may your strength be sufficient for each day you live." |
26There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, the clouds in His majesty. | 26"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens with its lofty clouds to help you. |
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 God of old is a dwelling place, with everlasting arms underneath. He drove out your enemies before you and said: 'Destroy them!' |
28So Israel dwells securely; Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine; even his skies drip with dew. | 28So Israel lives in confidence, isolated as the fountain of Jacob in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens rain 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. | 29How blessed are you, Israel! Who can be like you, a people delivered by the LORD, your shield of help and your finely crafted sword. May your enemies cower before you. You will tread down their high places." |
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