Deuteronomy 33

₂The LORD came from Mount Sinai.

From Edom, he gave light

to his people,

and his glory was shining

from Mount Paran.

Thousands of his warriors

were with him, and fire

was at his right hand.

₃The LORD loves the tribes

of Israel,

and he protects his people.

They listen to his words

and worship at his feet.

_4-5I called a meeting

of the tribes of Israel

and gave you God's Law.

Then you and your leaders

made the LORD your king.

₆Tribe of Reuben, you will live,

even though your tribe

will always be small.

₇The LORD will listen to you,

tribe of Judah, as you beg

to come safely home.

You fought your enemies alone;

now the LORD will help you.

₈At Massah and Meribah Spring,

the LORD tested you,

tribe of Levi.

You were faithful,

and so the priesthood belongs

to the Levi tribe.

₉Protecting Israel's agreement

with the LORD

was more important to you

than the life of your father

or mother,

or brothers or sisters,

or your own children.

₁₀You teach God's laws to Israel,

and at the place of worship

you offer sacrifices

and burn incense.

₁₁I pray that the LORD will bless

everything you do,

and make you strong enough

to crush your enemies.

₁₂The LORD Most High loves you,

tribe of Benjamin.

He will live among your hills

and protect you.

₁₃Descendants of Joseph,

the LORD will bless you

with precious water

from deep wells

and with dew from the sky.

₁₄Month by month, your fruit

will ripen in the sunshine.

₁₅You will have a rich harvest

from the slopes

of the ancient hills.

₁₆The LORD who appeared

in the burning bush

wants to give you the best

the land can produce,

and it will be a princely crown

on Joseph's head.

₁₇The armies of Ephraim

and Manasseh

are majestic and fierce

like a bull or a wild ox.

They will run their spears

through faraway nations.

₁₈Be happy, Zebulun,

as your boats set sail;

be happy, Issachar,

in your tents.

₁₉The sea will make you wealthy,

and from the sandy beach

you will get treasure.

So invite the other tribes

to celebrate with you

and offer sacrifices to God.

₂₀Tribe of Gad,

the LORD will bless you

with more land.

So shout his praises!

Your tribe is like a lion

ripping up its victim.

₂₁Your leaders met together

and chose the best land

for your tribe,

but you obeyed the LORD

and helped the other tribes.

₂₂Tribe of Dan,

you are like a lion cub,

startled by a snake.

₂₃The LORD is pleased with you,

people of Naphtali.

He will bless you

and give you the land

to the west and the south.

₂₄The LORD's greatest blessing

is for you, tribe of Asher.

You will be the favourite

of all the other tribes.

You will be rich with olive oil

₂₅and have strong town gates

with bronze and iron bolts.

Your people will be powerful

for as long as they live.

₂₆Israel, no other god

is like ours—

the clouds are his chariot

as he rides across the skies

to come and help us.

₂₇The eternal God

is our hiding place;

he carries us in his arms.

When God tells you

to destroy your enemies,

he will make them run.

₂₈Israel, you will live in safety;

your enemies will be gone.

The dew will fall from the sky,

and you will have plenty

of grain and wine.

₂₉The LORD has rescued you

and given you more blessings

than any other nation.

He protects you like a shield

and is your majestic sword.

Your enemies will bow in fear,

and you will trample

on their backs.