Genesis 49

1Jacob called his sons and said: Come to me so that I can tell you what will happen to you later.

2Come to me and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.

3Reuben, you were my first child. You were born when I was young and strong. You were the most honored and powerful of all my sons.

4But your passion was like a flood you couldn’t control. So, you will not remain my most honored son. You climbed into your father’s bed and slept with one of his wives. You brought shame to my bed, to the bed you lay on.

5Simeon and Levi are brothers. their swords are weapons of violence. Genesis 49.6 I will not join Simeon and Levi secret meetings. I will not take part in their evil plans. They have killed people out of anger and crippled animals for fun.

7A curse on Simeon and Levi anger, for it is strong; a curse on their wrath, for it is cruel. Simeon and Levi will not have their own land in Israel. They will live among other people in the land.

8Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will defeat your enemies. Your brothers will bow down to you.

9My son, Judah, you are like a young lion standing over the animal it killed. My son, Judah, Like a lion that has lied down to rest, no one is brave enough to disturb him

10Men from Judah’s family will be kings. The sign that his family rules will not leave his family before the true King, Jesus comes. Then many people will obey and serve

11The true King, Jesus will tie his donkeys to the best grapevines. The true King, Jesus washes his clothes in the best wine.

12The true King, Jesus eyes will be dark as red wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

13Zebulun will live near the sea. Zebulun seacoast will be a safe place for ships. Zebulun land will continue as far as the city of Sidon.

14Issachar is like a strong donkey resting between two burdens

15Issachar will see the land is pleasant and his resting place is good. But Issachar bowed his shoulder to bear a burden; became a band of slaves.

16Dan will make sure that people do the right things, because they are also one of the tribes of Israel.

17Dan is like a snake on a path. Dan is like a dangerous snake lying near the path. That snake bites a horse’s foot, and the rider falls to the ground.

18Lord, I am waiting for your salvation.

19A group of robbers will attack Gad, but Gad will chase them away.

20Asher’s land will grow much good food. Asher will have food fit for a king!

21Naphtali is like a deer that runs free in the field. Naphtali uses beautiful words.

22Joseph is like a fruitful branch of a tree. A fruitful tree by a spring; Its branches run over the wall.

23People attacked him and made his life hard for him. Men with arrows became his enemies.

24But Joseph won the fight with his mighty bow and his skillful arms. Joseph gets his power from the Mighty God of Jacob, from the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

25Joseph, the God of your father will help you. God Almighty will bless you, Joseph. God will bless you with rain from heaven and with water from deep in the ground. God will bless the mothers, and they will have many children and milk for all their babies.

26My son, Joseph, I bless you more than my other children. This blessing will not stop as long as there are mountains and hills. The Lord will be with Joseph because he will be the leader of his brothers.

27Benjamin is like a wolf that kills other animals. In the morning, he kills and eats. In the evening, he shares what is left.

28These are the 12 tribes of Israel, and this is what their father, Jacob said to them. Jocob blessed his children and gave each tribe its own blessing.

29Jacob told his sons: When I die, you must bury me with my fathers in the cave on the land that belonged to Ephron, the Hittite

30The cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan. That is the land that Abraham bought from Ephron, the Hittite, to have as a grave Genesis 49: 31 Abraham’s family buried Abraham there with his wife Sarah, and Isaac and his wives Rebekah and Leah.

32Abraham bought the field and the cave on it from the Hittites

33After Jacob finished talking to his sons, he lay down, put his feet back on the bed, and died.