The Gathering

1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi

3Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4↔Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

5Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

7↔Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Judah

8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.

9Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

10↔The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

11Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:

12His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali

13Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

14Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

15And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

16Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

17Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

18↔I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

19Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

20Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.

21Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

Joseph and Benjamin

22Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

23The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

24↔But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

25Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

26The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

27Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

Jacob's Last Words and Death

28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30↔In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place.

31There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

32The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.

33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Reuben

1Jacob called to his sons, and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.

2Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.

3"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.

4↔Boiling over as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father's bed, and defiled it. He went up to my couch.

Simeon and Levi

5"Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.

6My soul, don't come into their council. My glory, don't be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed a man. In their self-will they hamstrung an ox.

7↔Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Judah

8"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.

9Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?

10↔The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs. To him will the obedience of the peoples be.

11Binding his foal to the vine, his donkey's colt to the choice vine; he has washed his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

12His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.

Zebulun

13"Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.

Issachar

14"Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.

15He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant doing forced labor.

Dan

16"Dan will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

17Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward.

18↔I have waited for your salvation, LORD.

Gad

19"Gad, a troop will press on him, but he will press on their heel.

Asher

20"Asher's food will be rich. He will yield royal dainties.

Naphtali

21"Naphtali is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.

Joseph

22"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall.

23The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him.

24↔But his bow remained firm. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),

25even by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty, who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

26The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.

Benjamin

27"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder."

Jacob's Death

28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them, and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his own blessing.

29He 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 Hittite,

30↔in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place.

31There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife. There I buried Leah.

32The field and the cave that is in it was purchased from the children of Heth."

33When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

Reuben

1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the latter days.

2Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.

3Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.

4↔Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Simeon and Levi

5Simeon and Levi are brethren; Weapons of violence are their swords.

6O my soul, come not thou into their council; Unto their assembly, my glory, be not thou united; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox.

7↔Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel.

Judah

8Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise: Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; Thy father's sons shall bow down before thee.

9Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?

10↔The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.

11Binding his foal unto the vine, And his ass's colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine, And his vesture in the blood of grapes:

12His eyes shall be red with wine, And his teeth white with milk.

Zebulun

13Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; And he shall be for a haven of ships; And his border shall be upon Sidon.

Issachar

14Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds:

15And he saw a resting-place that it was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And he bowed his shoulder to bear, And became a servant under taskwork.

Dan

16Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.

17Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse's heels, So that his rider falleth backward.

18↔I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah.

Gad

19Gad, a troop shall press upon him; But he shall press upon their heel.

Asher

20Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, And he shall yield royal dainties.

Naphtali

21Naphtali is a hind let loose: He giveth goodly words.

Joseph

22Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; His branches run over the wall.

23The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him:

24↔But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),

25Even by the God of thy father, who will help thee, And by the Almighty, who will bless thee, With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.

26The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

Benjamin

27Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth: In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at even he shall divide the spoil.

Jacob's Death

28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

29And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30↔in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place.

31There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah:

32the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.

33And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Reuben

1And Jacob calleth unto his sons, and saith, 'Be gathered together, and I declare to you that which happeneth to you in the latter end of the days.

2Be gathered together and hear, sons of Jacob, And hearken unto Israel your father.

3Reuben, my first-born art thou, My power and the beginning of my strength, Abundant in dignity and abundant in might.

4↔Unstable as water, be not abundant — For thou didst go up to thy father's bed; Then thou didst defile — my couch he went up!

Simeon and Levi

5Simeon and Levi are brethren, Instruments of violence their swords.

6Into their circle come not, my soul, With their assembly be not united, my honour, For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox.

7↔Cursed is their anger, for it is fierce, And their wrath, for it is hard: I divide them in Jacob, And I scatter them in Israel.

Judah

8Judah — thou, thy brethren praise thee, Thy hand is on the neck of thine enemies, Sons of thy father bow themselves to thee.

9A lion's whelp is Judah, From the prey, my son, thou hast gone up; He hath bent the knee, he hath couched as a lion, And as a lioness — who causeth him to arise?

10↔The sceptre turneth not aside from Judah, And a lawgiver from between his feet, Till his Seed come; And his is the obedience of peoples.

11Binding to the vine his ass's foal, And to the choice vine the son of his she-ass, He hath washed in wine his clothing, And in the blood of grapes his covering.

12Red are his eyes with wine, And white are his teeth with milk.

Zebulun

13Zebulun at a haven of the seas doth dwell, And he is for a haven of ships, And his side is toward Zidon.

Issachar

14Issachar is a bony ass, Crouching between the boundaries;

15And he seeth rest that it is good, And the land that it is pleasant, And he inclineth his shoulder to bear, And is to tributary labour.

Dan

16Dan doth judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel.

17Dan is a serpent by the way, An adder by the path, That is biting the heels of the horse, And its rider falleth backward.

18↔For Thy salvation I have waited, O Jehovah!

Gad

19Gad — a troop doth press upon him, But he doth press on their heel.

Asher

20From Asher — his bread is fat, And he giveth dainties of a king.

Naphtali

21Naphtali is a hind sent away, Who is giving sayings of beauty.

Joseph

22A fruitful son is Joseph, A fruitful son by a fountain, Daughters have stepped over the wall.

23And embitter him — yea, they have striven, Yea, the archers hate him.

24↔And his bow abideth in strength, And the arms of his hands are made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, Thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel.

25From the God of thy father — and He helpeth thee, And with the Almighty — and He blesseth thee, Blessings of the heavens from above, Blessings of the deep lying under, Blessings of the breasts and womb.

26The blessings of thy father have been mighty Above the blessings of my progenitors, Unto the limit of the hills of the age, They are for the head of Joseph, And for the crown of the head of the Nazarite of his brethren.

Benjamin

27Benjamin ravins as a wolf, In the morning he eateth prey, And at evening he apportioneth spoil.'

Jacob's Death

28All these are tribes of Israel — twelve; and this is that which their father spake to them, and he blesseth them, each according to his blessing he blessed them.

29And he chargeth them, and saith unto them, 'I am gathered unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

30↔in the cave which is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place.

31There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah —

32the purchase of the field and of the cave which is in it, from the sons of Heth.'

33And Jacob finisheth commanding his sons, and gathereth up his feet unto the bed, and expireth, and is gathered unto his people.