New International Version | New Living Translation |
1This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. | 1This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the people of Israel before his death: |
2He said: "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes. | 2“The LORD came from Mount Sinai and dawned upon us from Mount Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran and came from Meribah-kadesh with flaming fire at his right hand. |
3Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction, | 3Indeed, he loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching. |
4the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob. | 4Moses gave us the LORD’s instruction, the special possession of the people of Israel. |
5He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel. | 5The LORD became king in Israel — when the leaders of the people assembled, when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.” |
6"Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few." | 6Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben: “Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out, though they are few in number.” |
7And this he said about Judah: "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!" | 7Moses said this about the tribe of Judah: “O LORD, hear the cry of Judah and bring them together as a people. Give them strength to defend their cause; help them against their enemies!” |
8About Levi he said: "Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah. | 8Moses 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 Massah and struggled with them at the waters of Meribah. |
9He said of his father and mother, '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. | 9The Levites obeyed your word and guarded your covenant. They were more loyal to you than to their own parents. They ignored their relatives and did not acknowledge their own children. |
10He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. | 10They teach your regulations to Jacob; they give your instructions to Israel. They present incense before you and offer whole burnt offerings on the altar. |
11Bless all his skills, LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more." | 11Bless 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.” |
12About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." | 12Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: “The people of Benjamin are loved by the LORD and live in safety beside him. He surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every harm.” |
13About Joseph he said: "May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; | 13Moses said this about the tribes of Joseph: “May their land be blessed by the LORD with the precious gift of dew from the heavens and water from beneath the earth; |
14with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; | 14with the rich fruit that grows in the sun, and the rich harvest produced each month; |
15with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; | 15with the finest crops of the ancient mountains, and the abundance from the everlasting hills; |
16with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. | 16with 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. |
17In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh." | 17Joseph 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 Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.” |
18About Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. | 18Moses 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. |
19They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand." | 19They summon the people to the mountain to offer proper sacrifices there. They benefit from the riches of the sea and the hidden treasures in the sand.” |
20About Gad he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. | 20Moses said this about the tribe of Gad: “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad’s territory! Gad is poised there like a lion to tear off an arm or a head. |
21He chose the best land for himself; the leader's portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the LORD's righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel." | 21The people of Gad took the best land for themselves; a leader’s share was assigned to them. When the leaders of the people were assembled, they carried out the LORD’s justice and obeyed his regulations for Israel.” |
22About Dan he said: "Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan." | 22Moses said this about the tribe of Dan: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out from Bashan.” |
23About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake." | 23Moses said this about the tribe of Naphtali: “O Naphtali, you are rich in favor and full of the LORD’s blessings; may you possess the west and the south.” |
24About Asher he said: "Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. | 24Moses said this about the tribe of Asher: “May Asher be blessed above other sons; may he be esteemed by his brothers; may he bathe his feet in olive oil. |
25The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days. | 25May the bolts of your gates be of iron and bronze; may you be secure all your days.” |
26"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. | 26“There is no one like the God of Israel. He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor. |
27The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!' | 27The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’ |
28So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. | 28So Israel will live in safety, prosperous Jacob in security, in a land of grain and new wine, while the heavens drop down dew. |
29Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights." | 29How blessed you are, O Israel! Who else is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!” |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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