Jacob Blesses His Sons

1  וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And called) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) אֶל־ (to) בָּנָ֑יו (his sons) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ (Gather together), וְאַגִּ֣ידָה (and I will tell) לָכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֵ֛ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) יִקְרָ֥א (shall befall) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית (in the last) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (days).

2  הִקָּבְצ֥וּ (Assemble yourselves), וְשִׁמְע֖וּ (and listen), בְּנֵ֣י (sons) יַעֲקֹ֑ב (of Jacob);

וְשִׁמְע֖וּ (and listen) אֶל־ (to) יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (Israel) אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ father).

3  רְאוּבֵן֙ (Reuben), בְּכֹ֣רִי (my firstborn), אַ֔תָּה (you are) כֹּחִ֖י (my might),

וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית (and the first) אוֹנִ֑י (of my strength),

יֶ֥תֶר (exceeding) שְׂאֵ֖ת (in rank),

וְיֶ֥תֶר (and exceeding) עָֽז׃ (in power).

4  פַּ֤חַז (Uncontrolled) כַּמַּ֙יִם֙ (as the waters),

אַל־ (not) תּוֹתַ֔ר (you shall excel),

כִּ֥י (because) עָלִ֖יתָ (you went up) מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י (to the bed) אָבִ֑יךָ (of your father);

אָ֥ז (then) חִלַּ֖לְתָּ (you defiled it)— יְצוּעִ֥י (onto my couch) עָלָֽה׃פ (he went up).

5  שִׁמְע֥וֹן (Simeon) וְלֵוִ֖י (and Levi are) אַחִ֑ים (brothers);

כְּלֵ֥י (instruments) חָמָ֖ס (of violence are) מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (their swords).

6  בְּסֹדָם֙ (Their council) אַל־ (not) תָּבֹ֣א (let enter) נַפְשִׁ֔י (my soul);

בִּקְהָלָ֖ם (to their assembly) אַל־ (not) תֵּחַ֣ד (let be united) כְּבֹדִ֑י (my honor);

כִּ֤י (for) בְאַפָּם֙ (in their anger) הָ֣רְגוּ (they killed) אִ֔ישׁ (a man),

וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם (and in their self-will) עִקְּרוּ־ (they hamstrung) שֽׁוֹר׃ (an ox).

7  אָר֤וּר (Cursed be) אַפָּם֙ (their anger), כִּ֣י (for) עָ֔ז (it is strong),

וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם (and their wrath), כִּ֣י (for) קָשָׁ֑תָה (it is cruel)!

אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם (I will divide them) בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב (in Jacob),

וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם (and scatter them) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (in Israel).

8  יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah), אַתָּה֙ (you) יוֹד֣וּךָ (shall praise you) אַחֶ֔יךָ (your brothers).

יָדְךָ֖ (Your hand) בְּעֹ֣רֶף (shall be on the neck) אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (of your enemies);

יִשְׁתַּחֲוּ֥וּ (shall bow down) לְךָ֖ (to you) בְּנֵ֥י (sons) אָבִֽיךָ׃ (of your father).

9  גּ֤וּר (A whelp) אַרְיֵה֙ (of a lion) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah is)—

מִטֶּ֖רֶף (from the prey), בְּנִ֣י (my son), עָלִ֑יתָ (you have gone up);

כָּרַ֨ע (He crouched), רָבַ֧ץ (he lay down) כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה (as a lion),

וּכְלָבִ֖יא (and like a lioness), מִ֥י (who) יְקִימֶֽנּוּ׃ (shall rouse him)?

10  לֹֽא־ (Not) יָס֥וּר (shall depart) שֵׁ֙בֶט֙ (the scepter) מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה (from Judah),

וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק (and not the staff) מִבֵּ֣ין (from between) רַגְלָ֑יו (his feet),

עַ֚ד (until) כִּֽי־ (that) יָבֹ֣א (he comes) שִׁילֹה (to Shiloh);

וְל֖וֹ (and to him is) יִקְּהַ֥ת (the obedience) עַמִּֽים׃ (of the peoples).

11  אֹסְרִ֤י (Binding) לַגֶּ֙פֶן֙ (to the vine) עִירֹה (his donkey),

וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָ֖ה (and to the choice vine) בְּנִ֣י (the colt) אֲתֹנ֑וֹ (of his donkey).

כִּבֵּ֤ס (He washed) בַּיַּ֙יִן֙ (in the wine) לְבֻשׁ֔וֹ (his garment),

וּבְדַם־ (and in the blood) עֲנָבִ֖ים (of grapes) סוּתֹה׃ (his robe).

12  חַכְלִילִ֥י (Darker) עֵינַ֖יִם (his eyes are) מִיָּ֑יִן (than wine),

וּלְבֶן־ (and whiter) שִׁנַּ֖יִם (his teeth) מֵחָלָֽב׃פ (than milk).

13  זְבוּלֻ֕ן (ZEbulun) לְח֥וֹף (by the shore) יַמִּ֖ים (of the sea) יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן (shall dwell),

וְהוּא֙ (and he) לְח֣וֹף (shall be a haven for) אֳנִיּ֔וֹת (ships),

וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ (and his border) עַל־ (shall be to) צִידֹֽן׃ס (Sidon).

14  יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר (Issachar is) חֲמֹ֣ר (donkey) גָּ֑רֶם (a strong-boned),

רֹבֵ֖ץ (lying down) בֵּ֥ין (between) הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃ (the sheepfolds).

15  וַיַּ֤רְא (And he saw) מְנֻחָה֙ (rest) כִּ֣י (that its was) ט֔וֹב (good),

וְאֶת־ (and) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) כִּ֣י (that) נָעֵ֑מָה (it was pleasant);

וַיֵּ֤ט (and he extended) שִׁכְמוֹ֙ (his shoulder) לִסְבֹּ֔ל (to bear a burden),

וַיְהִ֖י (and he became) לְמַס־ (at forced labor) עֹבֵֽד׃ס (a servant).

16  דָּ֖ן (Dan) יָדִ֣ין (shall judge) עַמּ֑וֹ (his people),

כְּאַחַ֖ד (as one) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (of the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

17  יְהִי־ (Shall be) דָן֙ (Dan) נָחָ֣שׁ (a serpent) עֲלֵי־ (by) דֶ֔רֶךְ (the way),

שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן (a viper) עֲלֵי־ (by) אֹ֑רַח (the path),

הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ (biting) עִקְּבֵי־ (the heels) ס֔וּס (of the horse),

וַיִּפֹּ֥ל (and falls) רֹכְב֖וֹ (its rider) אָחֽוֹר׃ (backward).

18  לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֖ (For Your salvation) קִוִּ֥יתִי (I have waited), יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

19  גָּ֖ד (Gad)— גְּד֣וּד (a troop) יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ (shall assault him);

וְה֖וּא (and he) יָגֻ֥ד (will attack) עָקֵֽב׃ס (the heel).

20  מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר (Out of Asher), שְׁמֵנָ֣ה (shall be rich) לַחְמ֑וֹ (his bread),

וְה֥וּא (and he) יִתֵּ֖ן (shall give) מַֽעֲדַנֵּי־ (delicacies) מֶֽלֶךְ׃ס (royal).

21  נַפְתָּלִ֖י (Naphtali is) אַיָּלָ֣ה (a doe) שְׁלֻחָ֑ה (set free)

הַנֹּתֵ֖ן (the one giving) אִמְרֵי־ (sayings) שָֽׁפֶר׃ס (of beauty).

22  בֵּ֤ן (A son) פֹּרָת֙ (of fruitfulness) יוֹסֵ֔ף (Joseph is)—

בֵּ֥ן (a son) פֹּרָ֖ת (of fruitfulness) עֲלֵי־ (by) עָ֑יִן (a spring);

בָּנ֕וֹת (daughters) צָעֲדָ֖ה (march) עֲלֵי־ (over) שֽׁוּר׃ (the wall).

23  וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ (And they have embittered him) וָרֹ֑בּוּ (and shot)

וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ (and hated him) בַּעֲלֵ֥י (the masters) חִצִּֽים׃ (of arrows).

24  וַתֵּ֤שֶׁב (And remained) בְּאֵיתָן֙ (in strength) קַשְׁתּ֔וֹ (his bow);

וַיָּפֹ֖זּוּ (and were tempered) זְרֹעֵ֣י (the arms) יָדָ֑יו (of his hands)

מִידֵי֙ (by the hands) אֲבִ֣יר (of the Mighty One) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob);

מִשָּׁ֥ם (from there is) רֹעֶ֖ה (the Shepherd), אֶ֥בֶן (the Stone) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

25  מֵאֵ֨ל (By the God) אָבִ֜יךָ (of your father)— וְיַעְזְרֶ֗ךָּ (and He will help you) וְאֵ֤ת (-)—

שַׁדַּי֙ (and by Shaddai) וִיבָ֣רְכֶ֔ךָּ (and He will bless you)

בִּרְכֹ֤ת (with blessings) שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (of the heavens) מֵעָ֔ל (above),

בִּרְכֹ֥ת (blessings) תְּה֖וֹם (of the deep) רֹבֶ֣צֶת (that lies) תָּ֑חַת (beneath),

בִּרְכֹ֥ת (blessings) שָׁדַ֖יִם (of breasts) וָרָֽחַם׃ (and womb).

26  בִּרְכֹ֣ת (The blessings) אָבִ֗יךָ (of your father) גָּֽבְרוּ֙ (have excelled)

עַל־ (upon) בִּרְכֹ֣ת (the blessings) הוֹרַ֔י (of my ancestors)

עַֽד־ (up to) תַּאֲוַ֖ת (the utmost bound) גִּבְעֹ֣ת (of the hills); עוֹלָ֑ם (everlasting)

תִּֽהְיֶ֙ין֙ (they shall be) לְרֹ֣אשׁ (on the head) יוֹסֵ֔ף (of Joseph),

וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד (and on the crown) נְזִ֥יר (of the prince) אֶחָֽיו׃פ (of his brothers).

27  בִּנְיָמִין֙ (Benjamin is) זְאֵ֣ב (a wolf) יִטְרָ֔ף (that tears);

בַּבֹּ֖קֶר (in the morning) יֹ֣אכַל (he shall devour) עַ֑ד (prey),

וְלָעֶ֖רֶב (and in the evening) יְחַלֵּ֥ק (he shall divide) שָׁלָֽל׃ (spoil).

28  כָּל־ (All) אֵ֛לֶּה (these are) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), שְׁנֵ֣ים (two) עָשָׂ֑ר (and ten). וְ֠זֹאת (And this is) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) דִּבֶּ֨ר (spoke) לָהֶ֤ם (to them) אֲבִיהֶם֙ (their father), וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ (and he blessed) אוֹתָ֔ם (them), אִ֛ישׁ (each) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (one) כְּבִרְכָת֖וֹ (according to his own blessing) בֵּרַ֥ךְ (he blessed) אֹתָֽם׃ (them).

The Death of Jacob

29  וַיְצַ֣ו (And he commanded) אוֹתָ֗ם (them) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and he said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them), אֲנִי֙ (I) נֶאֱסָ֣ף (am being gathered) אֶל־ (to) עַמִּ֔י (my people); קִבְר֥וּ (bury) אֹתִ֖י (me) אֶל־ (with) אֲבֹתָ֑י (my fathers) אֶל־ (in) הַ֨מְּעָרָ֔ה (the cave) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בִּשְׂדֵ֖ה (in the field) עֶפְר֥וֹן (of Ephron) הַֽחִתִּֽי׃ (the Hittite), 30  בַּמְּעָרָ֞ה (in the cave) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that is) בִּשְׂדֵ֧ה (in the field) הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה (of Machpelah), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which is) עַל־ (before) פְּנֵי־ (the face) מַמְרֵ֖א (of Mamre) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) כְּנָ֑עַן (of Canaan), אֲשֶׁר֩ (which) קָנָ֨ה (bought) אַבְרָהָ֜ם (Abraham) אֶת־ (-) הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה (with the field) מֵאֵ֛ת (of) עֶפְרֹ֥ן (Ephron) הַחִתִּ֖י (the Hittite) לַאֲחֻזַּת־ (for a possession) קָֽבֶר׃ (of a burial place). 31  שָׁ֣מָּה (There) קָֽבְר֞וּ (they buried) אֶת־ (-) אַבְרָהָ֗ם (Abraham) וְאֵת֙ (and) שָׂרָ֣ה (Sarah) אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (his wife); שָׁ֚מָּה (there) קָבְר֣וּ (they buried) אֶת־ (-) יִצְחָ֔ק (Isaac) וְאֵ֖ת (and) רִבְקָ֣ה (Rebekah) אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ (his wife); וְשָׁ֥מָּה (and there) קָבַ֖רְתִּי (I buried) אֶת־ (-) לֵאָֽה׃ (Leah). 32  מִקְנֵ֧ה (Were purchased) הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה (the field) וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה (and the cave) אֲשֶׁר־ (that is) בּ֖וֹ (in it) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) חֵֽת׃ (of Heth).

33  וַיְכַ֤ל (And finished) יַעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) לְצַוֺּ֣ת (commanding) אֶת־ (-) בָּנָ֔יו (his sons), וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (and he gathered) רַגְלָ֖יו (his feet) אֶל־ (into) הַמִּטָּ֑ה (the bed) וַיִּגְוַ֖ע (and he expired), וַיֵּאָ֥סֶף (and he was gathered) אֶל־ (to) עַמָּֽיו׃ (his people).