Genesis 49:1-12

Jacob Blesses His Sons 1Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.

3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

4Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.

5“Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. are weapons of violence.

6Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased.

7Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.

8“Judah, Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise. your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.

9You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Or from his descendants until he to whom it belongs Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

11He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

12His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk. Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from milk