Genesis 49:1-15 ▼

1 And Jacob called to his sons and he said, “Gather together, and I will tell you? what shall befall you? in the last days.

2 Assemble yourselves, and listen, sons of Jacob; and listen to Israel your? father.

3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the first of my strength, exceeding in rank, and exceeding in power.

4 Uncontrolled as the waters, you shall not excel, because you went up to the bed of your father; then you defiled it—he went up onto my couch.

5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of violence are their swords.

6 Into their council let not my soul enter; to their assembly let not my honor be united; for in their anger they killed a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

8 Judah—you, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; sons of your father shall bow down to you.

9 Judah is a whelp of a lion; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouched, he lay down as a lion, and like a lioness, who shall rouse him?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until that he comes to Shiloh; and to him is the obedience of the peoples.

11 Binding his donkey to the vine, and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine; he washed in the wine his garment, and in the blood of grapes his robe.

12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

13 Zebulun shall dwell by the shore of the sea, and he shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall be to Sidon.

14 Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.

15 And he saw rest, that its was good, and the land, that it was pleasant, and he extended his shoulder to bear a burden, and he became a servant at forced labor.