Genesis 49:1-12 ▼

1 After this, Jacob called his sons together and told them, |Assemble yourselves around me so I can tell you all what is going to happen to you in the last days.

2 |Gather together and listen, you children of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.|

3 |Reuben, you're my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power.

4 But you're as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won't succeed, because you got in your father's bed, defiled it, and then approached my couch.|

5 |Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are violent weapons.

6 I'll never join their council; I'll never enter their assembly. In their anger they committed murder and lamed cattle just for fun.

7 Their anger is cursed, because it is so fierce, as is their vehemence, because it is so cruel. I will separate them throughout Jacob's territory and disperse them throughout Israel.|

8 |Your brothers will praise you, Judah. Your hand will be at the throat of your enemies, and your father's children will bow down to you.

9 Judah is a lion cub. My son, you have gone up from the prey. Crouching like a lion, he lies down, Like a lioness, who would dare rouse him?

10 The scepter will never depart from Judah, nor a ruler's staff from between his feet, until the One comes, who owns them both, and to him will belong the allegiance of nations.

11 Binding his donkey to the vine and his mare's foal to its thick tendrils, he will wash his garments in wine and his robe in the juice of grapes.

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