49Genesis 49

The Last Words of Jacob

1Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future:Select Genesis 49:1

2“Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.Select Genesis 49:2

3“Reuben, my first-born, you are my strength And the first child of my manhood, The proudest and strongest of all my sons.Select Genesis 49:3

4You are like a raging flood, But you will not be the most important, For you slept with my concubine And dishonored your father's bed.Select Genesis 49:4

5“Simeon and Levi are brothers. They use their weapons to commit violence.Select Genesis 49:5

6I will not join in their secret talks, Nor will I take part in their meetings, For they killed people in anger And they crippled bulls for sport.Select Genesis 49:6

7A curse be on their anger, because it is so fierce, And on their fury, because it is so cruel. I will scatter them throughout the land of Israel. I will disperse them among its people.Select Genesis 49:7

8“Judah, your brothers will praise you. You hold your enemies by the neck. Your brothers will bow down before you.Select Genesis 49:8

9Judah is like a lion, Killing his victim and returning to his den, Stretching out and lying down. No one dares disturb him.Select Genesis 49:9

10Judah will hold the royal scepter, And his descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute And bow in obedience before him.Select Genesis 49:10

11He ties his young donkey to a grapevine, To the very best of the vines. He washes his clothes in blood-red wine.Select Genesis 49:11

12His eyes are bloodshot from drinking wine, His teeth white from drinking milk.Select Genesis 49:12

13“Zebulun will live beside the sea. His shore will be a haven for ships. His territory will reach as far as Sidon.Select Genesis 49:13

14“Issachar is no better than a donkey That lies stretched out between its saddlebags.Select Genesis 49:14

15But he sees that the resting place is good And that the land is delightful. So he bends his back to carry the load And is forced to work as a slave.Select Genesis 49:15

16“Dan will be a ruler for his people. They will be like the other tribes of Israel.Select Genesis 49:16

17Dan will be a snake at the side of the road, A poisonous snake beside the path, That strikes at the horse's heel, So that the rider is thrown off backward.Select Genesis 49:17

18“I wait for your deliverance, Lord.Select Genesis 49:18

19“Gad will be attacked by a band of robbers, But he will turn and pursue them.Select Genesis 49:19

20“Asher's land will produce rich food. He will provide food fit for a king.Select Genesis 49:20

21“Naphtali is a deer that runs free, Who bears lovely fawns.Select Genesis 49:21

22“Joseph is like a wild donkey by a spring, A wild colt on a hillside.Select Genesis 49:22

23His enemies attack him fiercely And pursue him with their bows and arrows.Select Genesis 49:23

24But his bow remains steady, And his arms are made strong By the power of the Mighty God of Jacob, By the Shepherd, the Protector of Israel.Select Genesis 49:24

25It is your father's God who helps you, The Almighty God who blesses you With blessings of rain from above And of deep waters from beneath the ground, Blessings of many cattle and children,Select Genesis 49:25

26Blessings of grain and flowers, Blessings of ancient mountains, Delightful things from everlasting hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, On the brow of the one set apart from his brothers.Select Genesis 49:26

27“Benjamin is like a vicious wolf. Morning and evening he kills and devours.”Select Genesis 49:27

28These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said as he spoke a suitable word of farewell to each son.Select Genesis 49:28

The Death and Burial of Jacob

29Then Jacob commanded his sons, “Now that I am going to join my people in death, bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,Select Genesis 49:29

30at Machpelah east of Mamre in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought this cave and field from Ephron for a burial ground.Select Genesis 49:30

31That is where they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah; that is where they buried Isaac and his wife Rebecca; and that is where I buried Leah.Select Genesis 49:31

32The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites. Bury me there.”Select Genesis 49:32

33When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he lay back down and died.Select Genesis 49:33