⁶ “Let Reuben live and not die,
    nor^[a] his people be few.”^(A)

“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah;
    bring him to his people.
With his own hands he defends his cause.
    Oh, be his help against his foes!”

“Your Thummim and Urim^(D) belong
    to your faithful servant.^(E)
You tested^(F) him at Massah;
    you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.^(G)
9 He said of his father and mother,^(H)
    ‘I have no regard for them.’
He did not recognize his brothers
    or acknowledge his own children,
but he watched over your word
    and guarded your covenant.^(I)
10 He teaches^(J) your precepts to Jacob
    and your law to Israel.^(K)
He offers incense before you^(L)
    and whole burnt offerings on your altar.^(M)
11 Bless all his skills, Lord,
    and be pleased with the work of his hands.^(N)
Strike down those who rise against him,
    his foes till they rise no more.”

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,^(P)
    for he shields him all day long,^(Q)
    and the one the Lord loves^(R) rests between his shoulders.^(S)”

“May the Lord bless his land
    with the precious dew from heaven above
    and with the deep waters that lie below;^(U)
14 with the best the sun brings forth
    and the finest the moon can yield;
¹⁵ with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains^(V)
    and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
¹⁶ with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
    and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.^(W)
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
    on the brow of the prince among^[b] his brothers.^(X)
17 In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
    his horns^(Y) are the horns of a wild ox.^(Z)
With them he will gore^(AA) the nations,
    even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;^(AB)
    such are the thousands of Manasseh.^(AC)”

²³ So he said he would destroy^(A) them—
    had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach^(B) before him
    to keep his wrath from destroying them.