CHAPTER 33
He said:
“The LORD
came
from Sinai
and dawned
upon us
from Seir;
He shone forth
from Mount
Paran
and came
with myriads
of holy ones,
with flaming fire
at His right hand.
Surely
You love
the people;
all
the holy ones are
in Your hand,
and they
sit down
at Your feet;
each receives
Your words—
So the LORD became
King
in Jeshurun
when the leaders
of the people
gathered,
together with
the tribes
of Israel.
And
concerning Judah
he said:
“O LORD,
hear
the cry
of Judah
and bring
him to
his people.
With his own hands
he defends his cause,
but may You be
a help
against his foes.”
Concerning Levi
he said:
“Give Your Thummim to Levi
and Your Urim
to Your godly
one,
whom
You tested
at Massah
and contested
at
the waters
of Meribah.
He said
of his father
and mother,
‘I do not
consider them.’
He disregarded
his brothers
and did not
know
his own sons,
for
they kept
Your word
and maintained
Your covenant.
They will teach
Your ordinances
to Jacob
and Your law
to Israel;
they will set
incense
before You
and whole burnt offerings
on
Your altar.
Bless
his substance,
O LORD,
and accept
the work
of his hands.
Smash
the loins
of those who rise against him,
and of his foes
so they can
rise no more.”
Concerning Benjamin
he said:
“May the beloved
of the LORD
rest
secure
in Him;
God shields
him
all
day long,
and upon His shoulders
he rests.”
Concerning Joseph
he said:
“May his land
be blessed
by the LORD
with the dew
of heaven’s
bounty
and the watery depths
that lie
beneath,
with the choice gifts
of the land
and everything in it,
and with the favor
of Him who dwelt
in the burning bush.
May these rest
on the head
of Joseph
and crown the brow
of the prince
of his brothers.
His
majesty is like
a firstborn
bull
and his horns
like those
of a wild ox.
With them he will gore
the nations,
even to the ends
of the earth.
Such
are the myriads
of Ephraim,
and such
are the thousands
of Manasseh.”
They will call
the peoples
to a mountain;
there
they will offer
sacrifices
of righteousness.
For
they will feast on
the abundance
of the seas
and the hidden
treasures
of the sand.”
Concerning Gad
he said:
“Blessed is
he who enlarges
the domain of Gad!
He lies down
like a lion
and tears off
an arm
or
a head.
He chose
the best land
for himself,
because
a ruler’s
portion
was reserved for him
there.
He came
with the leaders
of the people;
he administered
the justice
of the LORD
and His ordinances
for
Israel.”
Concerning Naphtali
he said:
“Naphtali
is abounding
with favor,
full
of the blessing
of the LORD;
he shall take possession
of the Sea
and the south.”
Concerning Asher
he said:
“May Asher
be the most blessed
of sons;
may he be
the most favored
among his brothers
and dip
his foot
in oil.
There is none
like the God
of Jeshurun,
who rides
the heavens
to your aid,
and the clouds
in His majesty.
The eternal
God
is your dwelling place,
and underneath
are the everlasting
arms.
He drives out
the enemy
before you,
giving the command,
‘Destroy him!’
So Israel
dwells
securely;
the fountain
of Jacob
lives untroubled
in
a land
of grain
and new wine,
where even
the heavens
drip
with dew.
Blessed are you,
O Israel!
Who
is like you,
a people
saved
by the LORD?
He is the shield
that protects you,
the sword
in which you boast.
Your enemies
will cower before you,
and you
shall trample
their high places.”