12. Benjamin:“God’s beloved;God’s permanent residence.Encircled by God all day long,within whom God is at home.”
13-17. Joseph:“Blessed by God be his land:The best fresh dew from high heaven,and fountains springing from the depths;The best radiance streaming from the sunand the best the moon has to offer;Beauty pouring off the tops of the mountainsand the best from the everlasting hills;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.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.”
18-19. Zebulun and Issachar:“Celebrate, Zebulun, as you go out,and Issachar, as you stay home.They’ll invite people to the Mountainand offer sacrifices of right worship,For they will have hauled riches in from the seaand gleaned treasures from the beaches.”
20-21. Gad:“Blessed is he who makes Gad large.Gad roams like a lion,tears off an arm, rips open a skull.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 waysand his rules for life in Israel.”
22. Dan:“Dan is a lion’s cubleaping out of Bashan.”
23. Naphtali:“Naphtali brims with blessings,spills over with God’s blessingsAs he takes possessionof the sea and southland.”
24-25. Asher:“Asher, best blessed of the sons!May he be the favorite of his brothers,his feet massaged in oil.Safe behind iron-clad doors and gates,your strength like iron as long as you live.”
26-28. There is none like God, Jeshurun,riding to your rescue through the skies,his dignity haloed by clouds.The ancient God is homeon a foundation of everlasting arms.He drove out the enemy before youand commanded, “Destroy!”Israel lived securely,the fountain of Jacob undisturbedIn grain and wine countryand, oh yes, his heavens drip 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 belliesand you’ll march on their backs.