9. They said that they didn’t know their father and mother.They didn’t recognize their own brothers.They didn’t acknowledge their own children.But they obeyed your wordand were faithful to the terms of your promise.
10. They teach Jacob your rulesand give Israel your teachings.They burn incense for you to smelland sacrifice burnt offerings on your altar.
11. Lord, bless them with strengthand be pleased with the work they do.Break the backs of those who attack them and hate themso that they can never get up again.”
12. About the tribe of Benjamin he said,“The Lord’s beloved people will live securely with him.The Lord will shelter them all day long,since he, too, lives on the mountain slopes.”
13. About the tribes of Joseph he said,“May the Lord bless their land with ⌊water,⌋the best gift heaven can send,with dew and deep springs below the ground.
14. May the Lord bless their land with crops,the best gift the sun can give,the best produce of each month,
15. the finest fruits from the oldest mountains,the best from the ancient hills,
16. and the most plentiful crops of the earth.May the Lord bless their land with the favorof the one who was in the burning bush.May these blessings come to the tribes of Joseph.May they crown the people who are like princes in Israel.
17. They will be as majestic as a firstborn bull.Their horns will be like the horns of a wild ox.They will use them to push away nationsincluding those at the ends of the earth.The tens of thousands from the tribe of Ephraimand the thousands from the tribe of Manasseh will be like this.”
18. About the tribe of Zebulun he said,“People of Zebulun, enjoy yourselves when you go to war,and you people of Issachar, enjoy yourselves when you stay at home.
19. They will invite nations to their mountain,and there they will offer the proper sacrifices.They will be nourished by the abundance from the seasand the treasures hidden in the sand.”
20. About the tribe of Gad he said,“Blessed is the one who gives the people of Gad more land.They wait there like a lion.They can tear off an arm or a head.
21. They chose the best land for themselves.Indeed, a commander’s piece of land was reserved for them.They were leaders of the peopleand did for Israel what the Lord considers fair and honorable.”
22. About the tribe of Dan he said,“The people of Dan are a lion cub.Out of Bashan they pounce ⌊on their enemies⌋.”