49:1   Jacob called his sons together and said: My sons, I am Jacob, your father Israel.

49:2   Come, gather around, as I tell your future.

49:3   Reuben, you are my oldest, born at the peak of my powers; you were an honored leader.

49:4   Uncontrollable as a flood, you slept with my wife and disgraced my bed. And so you no longer deserve the place of honor.

49:5   Simeon and Levi, you are brothers, each a gruesome sword.

49:6   I never want to take part in your plans or deeds. You slaughtered people in your anger, and you crippled cattle for no reason.

49:7   Now I place a curse on you because of your fierce anger. Your descendants will be scattered among the tribes of Israel.

49:8   Judah, you will be praised by your brothers; they will bow down to you, as you defeat your enemies.

49:9   My son, you are a lion ready to eat your victim! You are terribly fierce; no one will bother you.

49:10   You will have power and rule until nations obey you and come bringing gifts.

49:11   You will tie your donkey to a choice grapevine and wash your clothes in wine from those grapes.

49:12   Your eyes are darker than wine, your teeth whiter than milk.

49:13   Zebulun, you will settle along the seashore and provide safe harbors as far north as Sidon.

49:14   Issachar, you are a strong donkey resting in the meadows.

49:15   You found them so pleasant that you worked too hard and became a slave.

49:16   Dan, you are the tribe that will bring justice to Israel.

49:17   You are a snake that bites the heel of a horse, making its rider fall.

49:18   Our LORD, I am waiting for you to save us.

49:19   Gad, you will be attacked, then attack your attackers.

49:20   Asher, you will eat food fancy enough for a king.

49:21   Naphtali, you are a wild deer with lovely fawns.

49:22   Joseph, you are a fruitful vine growing near a stream and climbing a wall.

49:23   Enemies attacked with arrows, refusing to show mercy.

49:24   But you stood your ground, swiftly shooting back with the help of Jacob's God, the All-Powerful One-- his name is the Shepherd, Israel's mighty rock.

49:25   Your help came from the God your father worshiped, from God All-Powerful. God will bless you with rain and streams from the earth; he will bless you with many descendants.

49:26   My son, the blessings I give are better than the promise of ancient mountains or eternal hills. Joseph, I pray these blessings will come to you, because you are the leader of your brothers.

49:27   Benjamin, you are a fierce wolf, destroying your enemies morning and evening.

49:28   These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is how Jacob gave each of them their proper blessings.

49:29   Jacob told his sons: Soon I will die, and I want you to bury me in Machpelah Cave. Abraham bought this cave as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, and it is near the town of Mamre in Canaan. Abraham and Sarah are buried there, and so are Isaac and Rebekah. I buried Leah there too.

49:30   (SEE 49:29)

49:31   (SEE 49:29)

49:32   Both the cave and the land that goes with it were bought from the Hittites.

49:33   When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons, he lay down on his bed and died.