Genesis 49
1 vocavit autem Iacob filios suos et ait eis congregamini ut adnuntiem quae ventura sunt vobis 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 Israhel 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 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 Symeon et Levi fratres vasa iniquitatis bellantia
Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.
6 in consilio eorum ne 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 illorum quia dura dividam eos in Iacob et dispergam illos in Israhel
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 a praeda 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 femoribus 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 vino stolam suam et 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 oculi eius vino et dentes lacte candidiores
His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.
13 Zabulon in litore 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 Isachar 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 subposuit umerum 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 Israhel
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 proeliabitur 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 Nepthalim cervus emissus et dans eloquia pulchritudinis
Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.
22 filius adcrescens Ioseph filius adcrescens 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 Israhel
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 uberum 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 nazarei 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 comedet 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 hii in tribubus Israhel 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 Hetthei
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 Hettheo 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 Sarram uxorem eius ibi sepultus est Isaac cum Rebecca coniuge 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 adpositusque 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.
