Chapter 33

  This is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.  

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  He said, Yahweh came from Sinai, Rose from Seir to them; He shined forth from Mount Paran, He came from the ten thousands of holy ones: At his right hand was a fiery law for them.  

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  Yes, he loves the people; All his saints are in your hand: They sat down at your feet; [Everyone] shall receive of your words.  

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  Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.  

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  He was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.  

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  Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.  

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  This is [the blessing] of Judah: and he said, Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah, Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself; You shall be a help against his adversaries.  

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  Of Levi he said, Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, Whom you did prove at Massah, With whom you did strive at the waters of Meribah;  

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  Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor knew he his own children: For they have observed your word, Keep your covenant.  

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  They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, Israel your law: They shall put incense before you, Whole burnt offering on your altar.  

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  Bless, Yahweh, his substance, Accept the work of his hands: Smite through the loins of those who rise up against him, Of those who hate him, that they not rise again.  

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  Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him; He covers him all the day long, He dwells between his shoulders.  

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  Of Joseph he said, Blessed of Yahweh be his land, For the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, For the deep that couches beneath,  

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  For the precious things of the fruits of the sun, For the precious things of the growth of the moons,  

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  For the chief things of the ancient mountains, For the precious things of the everlasting hills,  

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  For the precious things of the earth and the fullness of it, The good will of him who lived in the bush. Let [the blessing] come on the head of Joseph, On the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.  

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  The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his; His horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, [even] the ends of the earth: They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, They are the thousands of Manasseh.  

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  Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; Issachar, in your tents.  

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  They shall call the peoples to the mountain; There shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness: For they shall suck the abundance of the seas, The hidden treasures of the sand.  

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  Of Gad he said, Blessed be he who enlarges Gad: He dwells as a lioness, Tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.  

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  He provided the first part for himself, For there was the lawgiver's portion reserved; He came [with] the heads of the people; He executed the righteousness of Yahweh, His ordinances with Israel.  

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  Of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, That leaps forth from Bashan.  

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  Of Naphtali he said, Naphtali, satisfied with favor, Full with the blessing of Yahweh, Possess you the west and the south.  

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  Of Asher he said, Blessed be Asher with children; Let him be acceptable to his brothers, Let him dip his foot in oil.  

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  Your bars shall be iron and brass; As your days, so shall your strength be.  

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  There is none like God, Jeshurun, Who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies.  

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  The eternal God is [your] dwelling-place, Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, Said, Destroy.  

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  Israel dwells in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; Yes, his heavens drop down dew.  

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  Happy are you, Israel: Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, The shield of your help, The sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you; You shall tread on their high places.  

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