Genesis 49:1-12 ▼

1 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Gather together that I may tell you what will befall you in the last days.

2 Assemble together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might and the beginning of my vigor, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in strength.

4 Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Their swords are implements of violence.

6 Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they killed men, And in their self-will they hamstrung oxen.

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

8 “Judah, as for you, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lioness, who dares rouse him up?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

11 He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are dark from wine, And his teeth white from milk.