1 And this is the blessing {haberakhah: Ceremonial Benediction} that Moses, the man of God {Elohim, Covenant God}, pronounced on the sons of Israel before his death.
2 And he said, “The LORD {YHWH, Covenant Revealer} came from Sinai and dawned upon them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads {rivvot: countless throngs} of holy ones. From his right hand came a fiery law for them.”
3 Indeed, He {YHWH, Protector of Israel} loves His people; all His saints {kedoshav: set-apart ones} are in Your hand. They bow down at Your feet, and each one receives from Your words.
4 The law {torah: covenant instruction} that Moses commanded us is the inheritance {morashah: ancestral possession} of the assembly of Jacob.
5 And He {YHWH, Sovereign King} was king in Jeshurun {Yeshurun: poetic name for Israel} when the leaders of the people assembled and the tribes of Israel gathered together.
6 Let Reuben live and not die, and let his men {metav: his men} be few in number {mispar: small tally}.
7 And this is the declaration regarding Judah: And he said, “Hear, LORD {YHWH, Champion of His Tribes}, the voice {qol: stirring petition} of Judah, and bring him to his people. Let his hands be sufficient for him, and be a help to him from his adversaries.”
8 And to Levi he said, “Your Thummim {tumim: sacred lots} and your Urim belong to your faithful one. You tested him at Massah {massah: place of testing}; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.”
9 The one who says to his father and to his mother, “I have not seen him,” he did not recognize his brothers, and he did not know his sons—because they kept Your {YHWH, Covenant Keeper} word and guarded Your covenant {berit: binding promise}.
10 They will teach your judgments {mishpat: divine rulings} to Jacob and your law {torah: covenant instruction} to Israel. They will put incense before your nostrils and whole burnt offering on your altar.
11 Bless, O LORD {YHWH, Covenant Protector}, his strength {cheil: resources for service}, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Crush the loins of his opponents, and his haters, that they may never rise again.
12 About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Protector} will dwell in safety {la-betach: secure refuge} with Him; He is covering him all the day, and between his shoulders He dwells.”
13 And of Joseph he said, "Blessed by the LORD {YHWH, Source of Bounty} is his land, from the precious things of the heavens, from the dew {tal: life-renewing moisture}, and from the deep that lies beneath."
14 And from the best {meged: choicest abundance} of the sun’s produce, and from the best of the yield {geresh: outpouring} of the moons.
15 And from the summit {rosh: summit or beginning} of the ancient mountains, and from the choicest {meged: finest produce} of the everlasting hills
16 And from the best {meged: finest produce} of the earth and its fullness and the favor of the One dwelling in the bush, let these blessings come upon the head of Joseph and upon the crown of the consecrated one {nezir: set-apart prince} among his brothers.
17 The firstborn of his bull possesses majesty {hadar: glorious splendor}, and the horns of a wild ox are his horns. With them he will gore the peoples together to the ends of the earth. These are the ten thousands of Ephraim {Ephrayim: northern tribe}, and these are the thousands of Manasseh.
18 And to Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out {tsetekha: departure beyond borders}, and Issachar, in your tents {ohalekha: dwelling places}."
19 Peoples will be summoned to the mountain {har: sacred meeting place}; there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness {tsedek: righteous offering}. For they will draw out the abundance of the seas and the treasures hidden in the sand.
20 And of Gad he said, “Blessed is he who enlarges {markhiv: territorial growth} Gad; like a lion he crouches {shachen: predatory posture}, and he tears the arm—even the crown of the head.”
21 And he saw the best portion {chelqat: inheritance lot} for himself, because there the lawgiver’s share was reserved. Then he came with the leaders of the people. He carried out the righteousness of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Upholder} and his judgments with Israel.
22 And about Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub {gur: young vigor}; he leaps from Bashan {habashan: fertile region}.”
23 And concerning Naphtali he said, “Naphtali is full of favor {ratzon: divine goodwill} and filled with the blessing of the LORD {YHWH, Bestower of Blessing}; he will inherit the sea and the south.”
24 And of Asher he said, “Blessed {barukh: exceptional honor} with children is Asher. Let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his foot in oil {shemen: symbol of abundance}.”
25 Iron and bronze will be your bolts {minalikha: gates’ fastenings}, and as your days, so will be your strength {davekha: enduring vigor}.
26 There is no one like God {El, Supreme Helper} for Jeshurun, who rides the heavens in your help {ezrekha: powerful aid} and the clouds in His majesty.
27 The God {Elohei, Eternal Refuge} of ancient times is a dwelling place, and underneath are everlasting arms {zero’ot: strength and support}. He drove out the enemy from before you and said, “Destroy!”
28 And Israel shall dwell in safety {betach: secure confidence}, alone; the fountain {ayin: spring} of Jacob shall be in a land of grain and new wine, and his heavens shall drip with dew.
29 Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people delivered by the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}? He is your shield {magen: divine protection} and the sword of your majesty. Your enemies will come cringing to you, and you will tread on their high places.