3 Indeed, he loves his people;all his holy ones are in his hands.They follow in his stepsand accept his teaching.
4 Moses gave us the lord’s instruction,the special possession of the people of Israel.
5 The lord became king in Israel—when the leaders of the people assembled,when the tribes of Israel gathered as one.”
6 Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben:“Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out,though they are few in number.”
7 Moses said this about the tribe of Judah:“O lord, hear the cry of Judahand bring them together as a people.Give them strength to defend their cause;help them against their enemies!”
8 Moses 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 Massahand struggled with them at the waters of Meribah.
9 The Levites obeyed your wordand guarded your covenant.They were more loyal to youthan to their own parents.They ignored their relativesand did not acknowledge their own children.