1-2. Jacob called his sons together and said:My sons, I am Jacob,your father Israel.Come, gather around,as I tell your future.
3. Reuben, you are my eldest,born at the peak of my powers;you were an honoured leader.
4. Uncontrollable as a flood,you slept with my wifeand disgraced my bed.And so you no longer deservethe place of honour.
5. Simeon and Levi,you are brothers,each a gruesome sword.
6. I never want to take partin your plans or deeds.You slaughtered peoplein your anger,and you crippled cattlefor no reason.
7. Now I place a curse on youbecause ofyour fierce anger.Your descendantswill be scatteredamong the tribes of Israel.
8. Judah, you will be praisedby your brothers;they will bow down to you,as you defeat your enemies.
9. My son, you are a lionready to eat your victim!You are terribly fierce;no one will bother you.
10. You will have power and ruleuntil nations obey youand come bringing gifts.
11. You will tie your donkeyto a choice grapevineand wash your clothesin wine from those grapes.
12. Your eyes are darker than wine,your teeth whiter than milk.
13. Zebulun, you will settlealong the seashoreand provide safe harboursas far north as Sidon.
14. Issachar, you are a strong donkeyresting in the meadows.
15. You found them so pleasantthat you worked too hardand became a slave.
16. Dan, you are the tribethat will bring justiceto Israel.
17. You are a snake that bitesthe heel of a horse,making its rider fall.
18. Our Lord, I am waitingfor you to save us.
19. Gad, you will be attacked,then attack your attackers.
20. Asher, you will eat foodfine enough for a king.
21. Naphtali, you are a wild deerwith lovely fawns.
22. Joseph, you are a fruitful vinegrowing near a streamand climbing a wall.
23. Enemies attacked with arrows,refusing to show mercy.
24. But you stood your ground,swiftly shooting backwith the help of Jacob's God,the All-Powerful One—his name is the Shepherd,Israel's mighty rock.
25. Your help came from the Godyour father worshipped,from God All-Powerful.God will bless you with rainand streams from the earth;he will bless youwith many descendants.
26. My son, the blessings I giveare better than the promiseof ancient mountainsor eternal hills.Joseph, I pray these blessingswill come to you,because you are the leaderof your brothers.
27. Benjamin, you are a fierce wolf,destroying your enemiesmorning and evening.
28. These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is how Jacob gave each of them their proper blessings.
29-31. 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.
32. Both the cave and the land that goes with it were bought from the Hittites.
33. When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons, he lay down on his bed and died.