Genesis 49:1-17 ▼

1 Then Jacob (he grasps the heel) called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you⁺ what will happen to you⁺ in the days to come:

2 Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob (he grasps the heel); listen to your⁺ father Israel (he wrestles with God).

3 Reuben (behold a son), you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

4 Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.

5 Simeon (heard) and Levi (joined to) are brothers; their swords (dwelling places) are weapons of violence.

6 May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob (he grasps the heel) and scatter them in Israel (he wrestles with God).

8 Judah (praised), your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

9 Judah (praised) is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah (praised), nor the staff from between his feet (from his descendants), until Shiloh (until the one to whom tribute belongs) comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

11 He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

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

13 Zebulun (exalted) shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon (hunting).

14 Issachar (there is recompense) is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds (saddlebags).

15 He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.

16 Dan (He has judged) shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God).

17 He (He has judged) will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.