| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. | 1This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. |
| 2He said, “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand. | 2He said: "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes. |
| 3Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you, | 3Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction, |
| 4when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. | 4the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob. |
| 5Thus the LORD became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. | 5He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel. |
| 6“Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few.” | 6"Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few." |
| 7And this he said of Judah: “Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries.” | 7And this he said about Judah: "Hear, LORD, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!" |
| 8And of Levi he said, “Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah; | 8About Levi he said: "Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah. |
| 9who said of his father and mother, ‘I regard them not’; he disowned his brothers and ignored his children. For they observed your word and kept your covenant. | 9He said of his father and mother, 'I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant. |
| 10They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. | 10He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. |
| 11Bless, O LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those who hate him, that they rise not again.” | 11Bless all his skills, LORD, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more." |
| 12Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” | 12About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." |
| 13And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath, | 13About Joseph he said: "May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; |
| 14with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months, | 14with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; |
| 15with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills, | 15with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; |
| 16with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwells in the bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the pate of him who is prince among his brothers. | 16with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. |
| 17A firstborn bull—he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.” | 17In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh." |
| 18And of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. | 18About Zebulun he said: "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. |
| 19They shall call peoples to their mountain; there they offer right sacrifices; for they draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.” | 19They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand." |
| 20And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. | 20About Gad he said: "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad's domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. |
| 21He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander’s portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments for Israel.” | 21He chose the best land for himself; the leader's portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the LORD's righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel." |
| 22And of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps from Bashan.” | 22About Dan he said: "Dan is a lion's cub, springing out of Bashan." |
| 23And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the lake and the south.” | 23About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the LORD and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake." |
| 24And of Asher he said, “Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. | 24About Asher he said: "Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil. |
| 25Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be. | 25The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days. |
| 26“There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. | 26"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. |
| 27The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’ | 27The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!' |
| 28So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. | 28So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. |
| 29Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.” | 29Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights." |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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