| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon 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 upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. | 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 You love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; each receives Your words— | 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. |
| 5So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, when the tribes of Israel came together. | 5The LORD became king in Israel — when the leaders of the people assembled, when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.” |
| 6Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men 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 concerning Judah he said: “O LORD, hear the cry of Judah and bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause, but may You be a 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!” |
| 8Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested 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 do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained 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 will teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel; he will set 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 his substance, O LORD, and accept the work of his hands. Smash the loins of those who rise against him, and of his foes so they can 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.” |
| 12Concerning Benjamin he said: “May the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him; God shields him all day long, and upon His shoulders he rests.” | 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.” |
| 13Concerning Joseph he said: “May his land be blessed by the LORD with the precious dew from heaven above and the deep waters that lie beneath, | 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 bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons, | 14with the rich fruit that grows in the sun, and the rich harvest produced each month; |
| 15with the best of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills, | 15with the finest crops of the ancient mountains, and the abundance from the everlasting hills; |
| 16with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it, and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph and crown the brow of the prince of 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. |
| 17His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and 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.” |
| 18Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and 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 call the peoples to a mountain; there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness. For they will feast on the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of 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.” |
| 20Concerning Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges the domain of Gad! He lies down like a lion and tears off an arm or a 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, because a ruler’s portion was reserved for him there. He came with the leaders of the people; he administered the LORD’s justice and His ordinances for 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.” |
| 22Concerning Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.” | 22Moses said this about the tribe of Dan: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out from Bashan.” |
| 23Concerning Naphtali he said: “Naphtali is abounding with favor, full of the blessing of the LORD; he shall take possession of the sea and the south.” | 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.” |
| 24And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot 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. |
| 25May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and may your strength match your days.” | 25May the bolts of your gates be of iron and bronze; may you be secure all your days.” |
| 26“There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and 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 dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’ | 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 dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with 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, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.” | 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!” |
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