Genesis 49
1 vocavit autem Iacob filios suos et ait eis congregamini ut adnuntiem quae ventura sunt vobis diebus novissimis
Then Jacob summoned his sons, and said: "Gather yourselves together so that I may tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.
2 congregamini et audite filii Iacob audite Israhel 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 imperio
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, and the the firstfruits of my virility, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4 effusus es sicut aqua non crescas quia ascendisti cubile patris tui et maculasti stratum eius
Uncontrolled as the waters, you will not have excel, because you went up to your father's bed, you went up and defiled my couch.
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 my honor never be joined with their assembly. For in their anger they killed men, and for pleasure they hamstrung oxen.
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 has been fierce, and their fury, 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 a praeda fili mi ascendisti requiescens accubuisti ut leo et quasi leaena quis suscitabit eum
Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey, my son, you rise up. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?
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 ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. And it is he whom the peoples will obey.
11 ligans ad vineam pullum suum et ad vitem o fili mi asinam suam lavabit vino stolam suam et sanguine uvae pallium suum
Binding his foal to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine. He will wash his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 pulchriores oculi eius vino et dentes lacte candidiores
His eyes will be darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.
13 Zabulon in litore maris habitabit et in statione navium pertingens usque ad Sidonem
Zebulun will dwell at the seashore, and he will be a harbor for ships, and his border will be at Sidon.
14 Isachar 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 subposuit umerum suum ad portandum factusque est tributis serviens
When he sees a good resting place, that the land is pleasant, he will bend his back to the burden, and become a slave doing forced labor.
16 Dan iudicabit populum suum sicut et alia tribus Israhel
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 road, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward.
18 salutare tuum expectabo Domine
I wait for your salvation, God.
19 Gad accinctus proeliabitur ante eum et ipse accingetur retrorsum
Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will raid at their heels.
20 Aser pinguis panis eius et praebebit delicias regibus
Asher's food will be rich, and he will 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 son, a fruitful son by a spring. His branches run over a wall.
23 sed exasperaverunt eum et iurgati sunt invideruntque illi habentes iacula
The archers will attack him with bitterness, and shoot at him, and harass him.
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 his bow will remain steady, and his arms will be made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by 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 will help you, and El Shaddai, who will bless you with blessings of the sky above, blessings of the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and of the 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 are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, and the bounty of the everlasting hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
27 Beniamin lupus rapax mane comedet praedam et vespere dividet spolia
Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey, and at evening he will divide the plunder."
28 omnes hii in tribubus Israhel duodecim haec locutus est eis pater suus benedixitque singulis benedictionibus propriis
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed each one with his own individual 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 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 Hethite,
30 contra Mambre in terra Chanaan quam emit Abraham cum agro ab Ephron Hettheo in possessionem sepulchri
in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is near Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hethite as a burial place.
31 ibi sepelierunt eum et Sarram uxorem eius ibi sepultus est Isaac cum Rebecca coniuge ibi et Lia condita iacet
There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah. There they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah.
The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the sons of Heth."
33 finitisque mandatis quibus filios instruebat collegit pedes suos super lectulum et obiit adpositusque est ad populum suum
When Jacob finished instructing his sons, he drew his legs up into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
