1 Moses was a prophet, and before he died, he blessed the tribes of Israel by saying:
2 The Lord came from Mount Sinai.From Edom, he gave lightto his people,and his glory was shiningfrom Mount Paran.Thousands of his warriorswere with him, and firewas at his right hand.
3 The Lord loves the tribesof Israel,and he protects his people.They listen to his wordsand worship at his feet.
4-5 I called a meetingof the tribes of Israeland gave you God's Law.Then you and your leadersmade the Lord your king.
6 Tribe of Reuben, you will live,even though your tribewill always be small.
7 The Lord will listen to you,tribe of Judah, as you begto come safely home.You fought your enemies alone;now the Lord will help you.
8 At Massah and Meribah Spring,the Lord tested you,tribe of Levi.You were faithful,and so the priesthood belongsto the Levi tribe.
9 Protecting Israel's agreementwith the Lordwas more important to youthan the life of your fatheror mother,or brothers or sisters,or your own children.
10 You teach God's laws to Israel,and at the place of worshipyou offer sacrificesand burn incense.
11 I pray that the Lord will blesseverything you do,and make you strong enoughto crush your enemies.
12 The Lord Most High loves you,tribe of Benjamin.He will live among your hillsand protect you.
13 Descendants of Joseph,the Lord will bless youwith precious waterfrom deep wellsand with dew from the sky.
14 Month by month, your fruitwill ripen in the sunshine.
15 You will have a rich harvestfrom the slopesof the ancient hills.
16 The Lord who appearedin the burning bushwants to give you the bestthe land can produce,and it will be a princely crownon Joseph's head.
17 The armies of Ephraimand Manassehare majestic and fiercelike a bull or a wild ox.They will run their spearsthrough faraway nations.
18 Be happy, Zebulun,as your boats set sail;be happy, Issachar,in your tents.
19 The sea will make you wealthy,and from the sandy beachyou will get treasure.So invite the other tribesto celebrate with youand offer sacrifices to God.
20 Tribe of Gad,the Lord will bless youwith more land.So shout his praises!Your tribe is like a lionripping up its victim.
21 Your leaders met togetherand chose the best landfor your tribe,but you obeyed the Lordand helped the other tribes.
22 Tribe of Dan,you are like a lion cub,startled by a snake.
23 The Lord is pleased with you,people of Naphtali.He will bless youand give you the landto the west and the south.
24 The Lord's greatest blessingis for you, tribe of Asher.You will be the favouriteof all the other tribes.You will be rich with olive oil
25 and have strong town gateswith bronze and iron bolts.Your people will be powerfulfor as long as they live.
26 Israel, no other godis like ours—the clouds are his chariotas he rides across the skiesto come and help us.
27 The eternal Godis our hiding place;he carries us in his arms.When God tells youto destroy your enemies,he will make them run.
28 Israel, you will live in safety;your enemies will be gone.The dew will fall from the sky,and you will have plentyof grain and wine.
29 The Lord has rescued youand given you more blessingsthan any other nation.He protects you like a shieldand is your majestic sword.Your enemies will bow in fear,and you will trampleon their backs.