The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Moses, man of God, blessed the People of Israel with this blessing before his death.
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This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death.
2 He said, God came down from Sinai, he dawned from Seir upon them; He radiated light from Mount Paran, coming with ten thousand holy angels And tongues of fire streaming from his right hand.
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He 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.
3 Oh, how you love the people, all his holy ones are palmed in your left hand. They sit at your feet, honoring your teaching,
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Yes, he loved his people, all his holy ones were in his hand; so they followed in your steps, receiving direction from you,
4 The Revelation commanded by Moses, as the assembly of Jacob's inheritance.
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when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.
5 Thus God became king in Jeshurun as the leaders and tribes of Israel gathered.
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Thus the Lord became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
6 Reuben: "Let Reuben live and not die, but just barely, in diminishing numbers."
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“Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few. ”
7 Judah: "Listen, God, to the Voice of Judah, bring him to his people; Strengthen his grip, be his helper against his foes."
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And 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. ”
8 Levi: "Let your Thummim and Urim belong to your loyal saint; The one you tested at Massah, whom you fought with at the Waters of Meribah,
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And 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;
9 Who said of his father and mother, 'I no longer recognize them.' He turned his back on his brothers and neglected his children, Because he was guarding your sayings and watching over your Covenant.
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who 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.
10 Let him teach your rules to Jacob and your Revelation to Israel, Let him keep the incense rising to your nostrils and the Whole-Burnt-Offerings on your Altar.
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They shall teach Jacob your rules and Israel your law; they shall put incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11 God bless his commitment, stamp your seal of approval on what he does; Disable the loins of those who defy him, make sure we've heard the last from those who hate him."
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Bless, 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. ”
12 Benjamin: "God's beloved; God's permanent residence. Encircled by God all day long, within whom God is at home."
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Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders. ”
13 Joseph: "Blessed by God be his land: The best fresh dew from high heaven, and fountains springing from the depths;
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And 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,
14 The best radiance streaming from the sun and the best the moon has to offer;
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with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months,
15 Beauty pouring off the tops of the mountains and the best from the everlasting hills;
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with the finest produce of the ancient mountains and the abundance of the everlasting hills,
16 The best of Earth's exuberant gifts, the smile of the Burning-Bush Dweller. All this on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the consecrated one among his brothers.
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with 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.
17 In splendor he's like a firstborn bull, his horns the horns of a wild ox; He'll gore the nations with those horns, push them all to the ends of the Earth. Ephraim by the ten thousands will do this, Manasseh by the thousands will do this."
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A 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. ”
18 Zebulun and Issachar: "Celebrate, Zebulun, as you go out, and Issachar, as you stay home.
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And of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents.
19 They'll invite people to the Mountain and offer sacrifices of right worship, For they will have hauled riches in from the sea and gleaned treasures from the beaches."
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They 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. ”
20 Gad: "Blessed is he who makes Gad large. Gad roams like a lion, tears off an arm, rips open a skull.
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And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp.
21 He took one look and grabbed the best place for himself, the portion just made for someone in charge. He took his place at the head, carried out God's right ways and his rules for life in Israel."
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He 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. ”
22 Dan: "Dan is a lion's cub leaping out of Bashan."
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And of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps from Bashan. ”
23 Naphtali: "Naphtali brims with blessings, spills over with God's blessings As he takes possession of the sea and southland."
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And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake and the south. ”
24 Asher: "Asher, best blessed of the sons! May he be the favorite of his brothers, his feet massaged in oil.
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And 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.
25 Safe behind iron-clad doors and gates, your strength like iron as long as you live."
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Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.
26 There is none like God, Jeshurun, riding to your rescue through the skies, his dignity haloed by clouds.
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“There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty.
27 The ancient God is home on a foundation of everlasting arms. He drove out the enemy before you and commanded, "Destroy!"
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The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy. ’
28 Israel lived securely, the fountain of Jacob undisturbed In grain and wine country and, oh yes, his heavens drip dew.
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So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew.
29 Lucky Israel! Who has it as good as you? A people saved by God! The Shield who defends you, the Sword who brings triumph. Your enemies will come crawling on their bellies and you'll march on their backs.
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Happy 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. ”
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025