Genesis 49
1 Vocavit autem Iacob filios suos, et ait eis: Congregamini, ut annunciem quæ ventura sunt vobis in diebus novissimis.
Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.
2 Congregamini, et audite filii Iacob, audite Israel patrem vestrum:
Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.
3 Ruben primogenitus meus, tu fortitudo mea, et principium doloris mei: prior in donis, maior in imperio.
“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
4 Effusus es sicut aqua, non crescas: quia ascendisti cubile patris tui, et maculasti stratum eius.
Boiling over like water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
5 Simeon et Levi fratres: vasa iniquitatis bellantia.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.
6 In consilium eorum non veniat anima mea, et in cœtu illorum non sit gloria mea: quia in furore suo occiderunt virum, et in voluntate sua suffoderunt murum.
My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.
7 Maledictus furor eorum, quia pertinax: et indignatio eorum, quia dura: dividam eos in Iacob, et dispergam eos in Israel.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
8 Iuda, te laudabunt fratres tui: manus tua in cervicibus inimicorum tuorum, adorabunt te filii patris tui.
“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you.
9 Catulus leonis Iuda: ad prædam fili mi ascendisti: requiescens accubuisti ut leo, et quasi leæna, quis suscitabit eum?
Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
10 Non auferetur sceptrum de Iuda, et dux de femore eius, donec veniat qui mittendus est, et ipse erit expectatio Gentium.
The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. The obedience of the peoples will be to him.
11 Ligans ad vineam pullum suum, et ad vitem, o fili mi, asinam suam. Lavabit in vino stolam suam, et in sanguine uvæ pallium suum.
Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 Pulchriores sunt oculi eius vino, et dentes eius lacte candidiores.
His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.
13 Zabulon in littore maris habitabit, et in statione navium pertingens usque ad Sidonem.
“Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.
14 Issachar asinus fortis accubans inter terminos.
“Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.
15 Vidit requiem quod esset bona: et terram quod optima: et supposuit humerum suum ad portandum, factusque est tributis serviens.
He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labour.
16 Dan iudicabit populum suum sicut et alia tribus in Israel.
“Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Fiat Dan coluber in via, cerastes in semita, mordens ungulas equi, ut cadat ascensor eius retro.
Dan will be a serpent on the trail, an adder in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward.
18 Salutare tuum expectabo Domine.
I have waited for your salvation, LORD.
19 Gad, accinctus præliabatur ante eum: et ipse accingetur retrorsum.
“A troop will press on Gad, but he will press on their heel.
20 Aser, pinguis panis eius, et præbebit delicias regibus.
“Asher’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties.
21 Nephthali, cervus emissus, et dans eloquia pulchritudinis.
“Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
22 Filius accrescens Ioseph, filius accrescens et decorus aspectu: filiæ discurrerunt super murum.
“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall.
23 Sed exasperaverunt eum, et iurgati sunt, invideruntque illi habentes iacula.
The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him:
24 Sedit in forti arcus eius, et dissoluta sunt vincula brachiorum et manuum illius per manus potentis Iacob: inde pastor egressus est lapis Israel.
But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
25 Deus patris tui erit adiutor tuus, et omnipotens benedicet tibi benedictionibus cæli desuper, benedictionibus abyssi iacentis deorsum, benedictionibus uberum et vulvæ.
even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.
26 Benedictiones patris tui confortatæ sunt benedictionibus patrum eius: donec veniret desiderium collium æternorum: fiant in capite Ioseph, et in vertice Nazaræi inter fratres suos.
The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.
27 Beniamin lupus rapax, mane comedat prædam, et vespere dividet spolia.
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.”
28 Omnes hi in tribubus Israel duodecim: hæc locutus est eis pater suus, benedixitque singulis benedictionibus propriis.
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them, and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his own blessing.
29 Et præcepit eis, dicens: Ego congregor ad populum meum: sepelite me cum patribus meis in spelunca duplici quæ est in agro Ephron Hethæi,
He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30 contra Mambre in Terra Chanaan, quam emit Abraham cum agro ab Ephron Hethæo in possessionem sepulchri.
in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place.
31 Ibi sepelierunt eum, et Saram uxorem eius: ibi sepultus est Isaac cum Rebecca coniuge sua: ibi et Lia condita iacet.
There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah:
the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.”
33 Finitisque mandatis quibus filios instruebat, collegit pedes suos super lectulum, et obiit: appositusque est ad populum suum.
When Jacob finished charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, breathed his last breath, and was gathered to his people.
