Deuteronomy 33:1-17

Moses, the man of God, gave this blessing to the Israelites before he died. He said: “The LORD came from Mount Sinai and rose like the sun from Edom; he showed his greatness from Mount Paran. He came with thousands of angels from the southern mountains. The LORD surely loves his people and takes care of all those who belong to him. They bow down at his feet, and they are taught by him. Moses gave us the teachings that belong to the people of Jacob. The LORD became king of Israel when the leaders of the people gathered, when the tribes of Israel came together. “Let the people of Reuben live and not die, but let the people be few.” Moses said this about the people of Judah: “LORD, listen to Judah’s prayer; bring them back to their people. They defend themselves with their hands. Help them fight their enemies!” Moses said this about the people of Levi: “LORD, your Thummim and Urim belong to Levi, whom you love. LORD, you tested him at Massah and argued with him at the waters of Meribah. He said about his father and mother, ‘I don’t care about them.’ He did not treat his brothers as favorites or give special favors to his children, but he protected your word and guarded your agreement. He teaches your laws to the people of Jacob and your teachings to the people of Israel. He burns incense before you and makes whole burnt offerings on your altar. LORD, make them strong; be pleased with the work they do. Defeat those who attack them, and don’t let their enemies rise up again.” Moses said this about the people of Benjamin: “The LORD’s loved ones will lie down in safety, because he protects them all day long. The ones he loves rest with him.” Moses said this about the people of Joseph: “May the LORD bless their land with wonderful dew from heaven, with water from the springs below, with the best fruits that the sun brings, and with the best fruits that the moon brings. Let the old mountains give the finest crops, and let the everlasting hills give the best fruits. Let the full earth give the best fruits, and let the LORD who lived in the burning bush be pleased. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the forehead of the one who was blessed among his brothers. Joseph has the majesty of a firstborn bull; he is as strong as a wild ox. He will stab other nations, even those nations far away. These are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasseh.”