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Deuteronomy 33:7-9
Contemporary English Version
Deuteronomy 33:7-9
Contemporary English Version
7 The Lord will listen to you,
tribe of Judah, as you beg
to come safely home.
You fought your enemies alone;[a]
now the Lord will help you.
8 (A) At Massah and Meribah Spring,[b]
the Lord tested you,
tribe of Levi.
You were faithful,[c]
and so the priesthood[d] belongs
to the Levi tribe.
9 Protecting Israel's agreement
with the Lord
was more important to you
than the life of your father
or mother,
or brothers or sisters,
or your own children.[e]
Footnotes
- 33.7 beg … alone: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 33.8 Massah and Meribah Spring: See Exodus 17.1-7; Numbers 20.1-13.
- 33.8 the Lord tested you, tribe of Levi. You were faithful: Or “the Lord tested me. I was faithful” or “the Lord tested Aaron and me. We were faithful.”
- 33.8 priesthood: The Hebrew text has “your thummim and your urim,” objects that were used by priests to get answers from God.
- 33.9 Protecting Israel's agreement … your own children: See Exodus 32.25-29.
Deuteronomy 33:7-9
New International Version
Deuteronomy 33:7-9
New International Version
7 And this he said about Judah:(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!”
8 About Levi(B) he said:
“Your Thummim and Urim(C) belong
to your faithful servant.(D)
You tested(E) him at Massah;
you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.(F)
9 He said of his father and mother,(G)
‘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.(H)
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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