Genesis 49

1 Then Jacob summoned his sons, and said: "Gather yourselves together so that I may tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.NHEB — Genesis 49:1

2 Assemble yourselves and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.NHEB — Genesis 49:2

3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the the firstfruits of my virility, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.NHEB — Genesis 49:3

4 Uncontrolled as the waters, you will not have excel, because you went up to your father's bed, you went up and defiled my couch.NHEB — Genesis 49:4

5 Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.NHEB — Genesis 49:5

6 May I never enter their council. May my honor never be joined with their assembly. For in their anger they killed men, and for pleasure they hamstrung oxen.NHEB — Genesis 49:6

7 Cursed be their anger, for it has been fierce, and their fury, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob,and scatter them in Israel.NHEB — Genesis 49:7

8 Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you.NHEB — Genesis 49:8

9 Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you rise up. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?NHEB — Genesis 49:9

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. And it is he whom the peoples will obey.NHEB — Genesis 49:10

11 Binding his foal to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine. He will wash his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes.NHEB — Genesis 49:11

12 His eyes will be darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.NHEB — Genesis 49:12

13 Zebulun will dwell at the seashore, and he will be a harbor for ships, and his border will be at Sidon.NHEB — Genesis 49:13

14 Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between the saddlebags.NHEB — Genesis 49:14

15 When he sees a good resting place, that the land is pleasant, he will bend his back to the burden, and become a slave doing forced labor.NHEB — Genesis 49:15

16 Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.NHEB — Genesis 49:16

17 Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that his rider falls backward.NHEB — Genesis 49:17

18 I wait for your salvation, God.NHEB — Genesis 49:18

19 Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will raid at their heels.NHEB — Genesis 49:19

20 Asher’s food will be rich, and he will provide royal delicacies.NHEB — Genesis 49:20

21 Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.NHEB — Genesis 49:21

22 Joseph is a fruitful son, a fruitful son by a spring. His branches run over a wall.NHEB — Genesis 49:22

23 The archers will attack him with bitterness, and shoot at him, and harass him.NHEB — Genesis 49:23

24 Yet his bow will remain steady, and his arms will be made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,NHEB — Genesis 49:24

25 by the God of your father, who will help you, and El Shaddai, who will bless you with blessings of the sky above, blessings of the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and of the womb.NHEB — Genesis 49:25

26 The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, and the bounty of the everlasting hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of the prince among his brothers.NHEB — Genesis 49:26

27 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey, and at evening he will divide the plunder."NHEB — Genesis 49:27

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed each one with his own individual blessing.NHEB — Genesis 49:28

29 Then he instructed them, and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hethite,NHEB — Genesis 49:29

30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is near Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hethite as a burial place.NHEB — Genesis 49:30

31 There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah. There they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah.NHEB — Genesis 49:31

32 The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the sons of Heth."NHEB — Genesis 49:32

33 When Jacob finished instructing his sons, he drew his legs up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.NHEB — Genesis 49:33