Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes

1  וְזֹ֣את (And this is) הַבְּרָכָ֗ה (the blessing) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (with which) בֵּרַ֥ךְ (blessed) מֹשֶׁ֛ה (Moses) אִ֥ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) מוֹתֽוֹ׃ (his death). 2  וַיֹּאמַ֗ר (And he said):

יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) מִסִּינַ֥י (from Sinai) בָּא֙ (came)

וְזָרַ֤ח (and dawned) מִשֵּׂעִיר֙ (from Seir) לָ֔מוֹ (upon them).

הוֹפִ֙יעַ֙ (He shone forth) מֵהַ֣ר (from Mount) פָּארָ֔ן (Paran),

וְאָתָ֖ה (and He came) מֵרִבְבֹ֣ת (with myriads) קֹ֑דֶשׁ (of holy ones),

מִֽימִינ֕וֹ (from His right hand) אֵשְׁדָּת (with flaming fire) לָֽמוֹ׃ (for them).

3  אַ֚ף (Yes), חֹבֵ֣ב (He loves) עַמִּ֔ים (the people);

כָּל־ (all) קְדֹשָׁ֖יו (the holy ones are) בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (in Your hand),

וְהֵם֙ (and they) תֻּכּ֣וּ (sit down) לְרַגְלֶ֔ךָ (at Your feet);

יִשָּׂ֖א (each receives) מִדַּבְּרֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (Your words).

4  תּוֹרָ֥ה (A law) צִוָּה־ (commanded) לָ֖נוּ (for us) מֹשֶׁ֑ה (Moses),

מוֹרָשָׁ֖ה (a possession) קְהִלַּ֥ת (for the assembly) יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (of Jacob).

5  וַיְהִ֥י (And He was) בִישֻׁר֖וּן (in Jeshurun) מֶ֑לֶךְ (King)

בְּהִתְאַסֵּף֙ (when were gathered) רָ֣אשֵׁי (the leaders) עָ֔ם (of the people),

יַ֖חַד (together with) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

6  יְחִ֥י (Let live) רְאוּבֵ֖ן (Reuben), וְאַל־ (and not) יָמֹ֑ת (die);

וִיהִ֥י (and let be) מְתָ֖יו (his men) מִסְפָּֽר׃ס (numerable).

7  וְזֹ֣את (And this) לִֽיהוּדָה֮ (is for Judah); וַיֹּאמַר֒ (and he said),

שְׁמַ֤ע (Hear), יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), ק֣וֹל (the voice) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah),

וְאֶל־ (and to) עַמּ֖וֹ (his people) תְּבִיאֶ֑נּוּ (bring him);

יָדָיו֙ (his hands) רָ֣ב (let be sufficient) ל֔וֹ (for him),

וְעֵ֥זֶר (and a help) מִצָּרָ֖יו (against his enemies) תִּהְיֶֽה׃ס (may You be).

8  וּלְלֵוִ֣י (And of Levi) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ (Your Thummim)

וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ (and Your Urim be) לְאִ֣ישׁ (unto man), חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ (Your godly),

אֲשֶׁ֤ר (whom) נִסִּיתוֹ֙ (You tested) בְּמַסָּ֔ה (at Massah),

תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ (and with whom You contended) עַל־ (at) מֵ֥י (the waters) מְרִיבָֽה׃ (of Meribah),

9  הָאֹמֵ֞ר (who says) לְאָבִ֤יו (of his father) וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ (and mother),

לֹ֣א (Not) רְאִיתִ֔יו (I have seen them)

וְאֶת־ (and) אֶחָיו֙ (his brothers) לֹ֣א (not) הִכִּ֔יר (did he acknowledge)

וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנוֹ (his own sons) לֹ֣א (not) יָדָ֑ע (did he know),

כִּ֤י (for) שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ (they have kept) אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ (Your word),

וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ (and Your covenant) יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ (they keep).

10  יוֹר֤וּ (They shall teach) מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ (Your ordinances) לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב (to Jacob)

וְתוֹרָתְךָ֖ (and Your law) לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (to Israel);

יָשִׂ֤ימוּ (they shall put) קְטוֹרָה֙ (incense) בְּאַפֶּ֔ךָ (before You)

וְכָלִ֖יל (and a whole burnt offering) עַֽל־ (on) מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ׃ (Your altar).

11  בָּרֵ֤ךְ (Bless), יְהוָה֙ (O YHWH), חֵיל֔וֹ (his substance),

וּפֹ֥עַל (and the work) יָדָ֖יו (of his hands); תִּרְצֶ֑ה (accept).

מְחַ֨ץ (Smash) מָתְנַ֧יִם (the loins) קָמָ֛יו (of those who rise against him),

וּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יו (and of those who hate him), מִן־ (that not) יְקוּמֽוּן׃ס (they rise again).

12  לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן (Of Benjamin) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

יְדִ֣יד (The beloved) יְהֹוָ֔ה (of YHWH)

יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן (shall dwell) לָבֶ֖טַח (in safety) עָלָ֑יו (in Him),

חֹפֵ֤ף (covering) עָלָיו֙ (him) כָּל־ (all) הַיּ֔וֹם (the day),

וּבֵ֥ין (and between) כְּתֵיפָ֖יו (His shoulders) שָׁכֵֽן׃ס (He rests).

13  וּלְיוֹסֵ֣ף (And of Joseph) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

מְבֹרֶ֥כֶת (Blessed) יְהֹוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אַרְצ֑וֹ (is his land),

מִמֶּ֤גֶד (with the precious things) שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (of the heavens)

מִטָּ֔ל (by dew), וּמִתְּה֖וֹם (and the deep) רֹבֶ֥צֶת (crouching) תָּֽחַת׃ (beneath),

14  וּמִמֶּ֖גֶד (and with the precious) תְּבוּאֹ֣ת (fruits) שָׁ֑מֶשׁ (of the sun),

וּמִמֶּ֖גֶד (and with the precious) גֶּ֥רֶשׁ (produce) יְרָחִֽים׃ (of the months),

15  וּמֵרֹ֖אשׁ (and with the best things) הַרְרֵי־ (of the mountains) קֶ֑דֶם (ancient),

וּמִמֶּ֖גֶד (and with the precious things) גִּבְע֥וֹת (of the hills) עוֹלָֽם׃ (everlasting),

16  וּמִמֶּ֗גֶד (and from the precious things) אֶ֚רֶץ (of the earth) וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ (and its fullness),

וּרְצ֥וֹן (and the favor) שֹׁכְנִ֖י (of Him who is dwelling) סְנֶ֑ה (in the bush).

תָּב֙וֹאתָה֙ (Let it rest) לְרֹ֣אשׁ (on the head) יוֹסֵ֔ף (of Joseph),

וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד (and on the top of the head) נְזִ֥יר (of the prince) אֶחָֽיו׃ (of his brothers).

17  בְּכ֨וֹר (Is a firstling) שׁוֹר֜וֹ (of his ox) הָדָ֣ר (honor) ל֗וֹ (unto him)

וְקַרְנֵ֤י (and the horns) רְאֵם֙ (of the wild ox) קַרְנָ֔יו (his horns)

בָּהֶ֗ם (with them). עַמִּ֛ים (The peoples) יְנַגַּ֥ח (he shall push) יַחְדָּ֖ו (together)

אַפְסֵי־ (to the ends) אָ֑רֶץ (of the earth).

וְהֵם֙ (And they) רִבְב֣וֹת (are the myriads) אֶפְרַ֔יִם (of Ephraim),

וְהֵ֖ם (and they are) אַלְפֵ֥י (the thousands) מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ס (of Manasseh).

18  וְלִזְבוּלֻ֣ן (And of Zebulun) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

שְׂמַ֥ח (Rejoice), זְבוּלֻ֖ן (Zebulun), בְּצֵאתֶ֑ךָ (in your going out),

וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר (and Issachar), בְּאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃ (in your tents).

19  עַמִּים֙ (The peoples) הַר־ (to the mountain) יִקְרָ֔אוּ (they shall call);

שָׁ֖ם (there) יִזְבְּח֣וּ (they shall offer) זִבְחֵי־ (sacrifices) צֶ֑דֶק (of righteousness).

כִּ֣י (For) שֶׁ֤פַע (the abundance) יַמִּים֙ (of the seas) יִינָ֔קוּ (they suckle),

וּשְׂפוּנֵ֖י (and of treasures) טְמ֥וּנֵי (hidden in) חֽוֹל׃ס (the sand).

20  וּלְגָ֣ד (And of Gad) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

בָּר֖וּךְ (Blessed is) מַרְחִ֣יב (he who enlarges) גָּ֑ד (Gad);

כְּלָבִ֣יא (as a lion) שָׁכֵ֔ן (He dwells)

וְטָרַ֥ף (and tears) זְר֖וֹעַ (the arm),

אַף־ (and) קָדְקֹֽד׃ (the crown of his head).

21  וַיַּ֤רְא (And he provided) רֵאשִׁית֙ (the first) ל֔וֹ (for himself)

כִּי־ (because) שָׁ֛ם (there) חֶלְקַ֥ת (a portion) מְחֹקֵ֖ק (of the lawgiver) סָפ֑וּן (was reserved),

וַיֵּתֵא֙ (and He came) רָ֣אשֵׁי (with the heads) עָ֔ם (of the people).

צִדְקַ֤ת (The justice) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) עָשָׂ֔ה (He administered)

וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו (and His ordinances) עִם־ (with) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (Israel).

22  וּלְדָ֣ן (And of Dan) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

דָּ֖ן (Dan is) גּ֣וּר (whelp) אַרְיֵ֑ה (of a lion);

יְזַנֵּ֖ק (He shall leap) מִן־ (from) הַבָּשָֽׁן׃ (Bashan).

23  וּלְנַפְתָּלִ֣י (And of Naphtali) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

נַפְתָּלִי֙ (Naphtali), שְׂבַ֣ע (is satisfied) רָצ֔וֹן (with favor),

וּמָלֵ֖א (and full) בִּרְכַּ֣ת (of the blessing) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH),

יָ֥ם (of the sea) וְדָר֖וֹם (and the south)

יְרָֽשָׁה׃ס (he shall take possession).

24  וּלְאָשֵׁ֣ר (And of Asher) אָמַ֔ר (he said),

בָּר֥וּךְ (Most blessed) מִבָּנִ֖ים (of sons) אָשֵׁ֑ר (Asher is);

יְהִ֤י (let him be) רְצוּי֙ (favored) אֶחָ֔יו (by his brothers),

וְטֹבֵ֥ל (and let him dip) בַּשֶּׁ֖מֶן (in the oil) רַגְלֽוֹ׃ (his foot).

25  בַּרְזֶ֥ל (Iron) וּנְחֹ֖שֶׁת (and bronze); מִנְעָלֶ֑יךָ (are your gates)

וּכְיָמֶ֖יךָ (and as your days), דָּבְאֶֽךָ׃ (your strength).

26  אֵ֥ין (None is) כָּאֵ֖ל (like the God) יְשֻׁר֑וּן (of Jeshurun),

רֹכֵ֤ב (riding) שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (the heavens) בְעֶזְרֶ֔ךָ (to help you),

וּבְגַאֲוָת֖וֹ (and in His majesty) שְׁחָקִֽים׃ (on the clouds).

27  מְעֹנָה֙ (A habitation) אֱלֹ֣הֵי (is God) קֶ֔דֶם (the eternal)

וּמִתַּ֖חַת (and underneath) זְרֹעֹ֣ת (are the arms) עוֹלָ֑ם (everlasting).

וַיְגָ֧רֶשׁ (And He will thrust out) מִפָּנֶ֛יךָ (from before you) אוֹיֵ֖ב (the enemy)

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (and will say), הַשְׁמֵֽד׃ (Destroy).

28  וַיִּשְׁכֹּן֩ (And shall dwell) יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (Israel) בֶּ֤טַח (in safety)

בָּדָד֙ (alone), עֵ֣ין (the fountain) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob)

אֶל־ (in) אֶ֖רֶץ (a land) דָּגָ֣ן (of grain) וְתִיר֑וֹשׁ (and new wine);

אַף־ (also) שָׁמָ֖יו (His heavens) יַֽעַרְפוּ (drip down) טָֽל׃ (dew).

29  אַשְׁרֶ֨יךָ (Blessed are you) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (O Israel);

מִ֣י (who is) כָמ֗וֹךָ (like you), עַ֚ם (a people) נוֹשַׁ֣ע (saved) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH),

מָגֵ֣ן (the shield) עֶזְרֶ֔ךָ (of your help),

וַאֲשֶׁר־ (and who is) חֶ֖רֶב (the sword) גַּאֲוָתֶ֑ךָ (of your majesty)!

וְיִכָּֽחֲשׁ֤וּ (And shall submit) אֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ (Your enemies) לָ֔ךְ (to you),

וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) עַל־ (upon) בָּמוֹתֵ֥ימוֹ (their high places) תִדְרֹֽךְ׃ס (shall tread).