Genesis 49
1 Vocavit autem Iacob filios suos, et ait eis: Congregamini, ut annunciem quae ventura sunt vobis in diebus novissimis.
Then Jacob 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 Congregamini, et audite filii Iacob, audite Israel patrem vestrum:
Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.
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 honor, excelling in power.
4 Effusus es sicut aqua, non crescas: quia ascendisti cubile patris tui, et maculasti stratum eius.
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 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 coetu illorum non sit gloria mea: quia in furore suo occiderunt virum, et in voluntate sua suffoderunt murum.
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 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 is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse 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 shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
9 Catulus leonis Iuda: ad praedam fili mi ascendisti: requiescens accubuisti ut leo, et quasi leaena, quis suscitabit eum?
Judah 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 NON AUFERETUR sceptrum de Iuda, et dux de femore eius, donec veniat qui mittendus est, et ipse erit expectatio gentium.
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
11 Ligans ad vineam pullum suum, et ad vitem, o fili mi, asinam suam. Lavabit in vino stolam suam, et in sanguine uvae pallium suum.
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 Pulchriores sunt oculi eius vino, et dentes eius lacte candidiores.
His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.
13 Zabulon in littore maris habitabit, et in statione navium pertingens usque ad Sidonem.
Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon.
14 Issachar asinus fortis accubans inter terminos.
Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.
15 Vidit requiem quod esset bona: et terram quod optima: et supposuit humerum suum ad portandum, factusque est tributis serviens.
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 iudicabit populum suum sicut et alia tribus in Israel.
Dan shall provide justice for 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.
He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.
18 SALUTARE tuum expectabo Domine.
I await Your salvation, O LORD.
19 Gad, accinctus praeliabatur ante eum: et ipse accingetur retrorsum.
Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels.
20 Aser, pinguis panis eius, et praebebit delicias regibus.
Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.
21 Nephthali, cervus emissus, et dans eloquia pulchritudinis.
Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
22 Filius accrescens Ioseph, filius accrescens et decorus aspectu: filiae discurrerunt super murum.
Joseph is a fruitful vine— a fruitful vine by a spring, whose branches scale the wall.
23 Sed exasperaverunt eum, et iurgati sunt, invideruntque illi habentes iacula.
The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
24 Sedit in forti arcus eius, et dissoluta sunt vincula brachiorum et manuum illius per manus potentis Iacob: inde pastor egressus est lapis Israel.
Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 Deus patris tui erit adiutor tuus, et omnipotens benedicet tibi benedictionibus caeli desuper, benedictionibus abyssi iacentis deorsum, benedictionibus huberum et vulvae.
by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you, with blessings of the heavens above, with blessings of the depths below, with blessings of the breasts and womb.
26 Benedictiones patris tui confortatae sunt benedictionibus patrum eius: donec veniret desiderium collium aeternorum: fiant in capite Ioseph, et in vertice Nazaraei inter fratres suos.
The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.
27 Beniamin lupus rapax, mane comedat praedam, et vespere dividet spolia.
Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”
28 Omnes hi in tribubus Israel duodecim: haec locutus est eis pater suus, benedixitque singulis benedictionibus propriis.
These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.
29 Et praecepit eis, dicens: Ego congregor ad populum meum: sepelite me cum patribus meis in spelunca duplici quae est in agro Ephron Hethaei,
Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
30 contra Mambre in Terra Chanaan, quam emit Abraham cum agro ab Ephron Hethaeo in possessionem sepulchri.
The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
31 Ibi sepelierunt eum, et Saram uxorem eius: ibi sepultus est Isaac cum Rebecca coniuge sua: ibi et Lia condita iacet.
There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried, and there I buried Leah.
The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites.”
33 Finitisque mandatis quibus filios instruebat, collegit pedes suos super lectulum, et obiit: appositusque est ad populum suum.
When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and he was gathered to his people.
