Genesis 49
1 vocavit autem Iacob filios suos et ait eis congregamini ut adnuntiem quae ventura sunt vobis diebus novissimis
Jacob [Supplanter] 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.
2 congregamini et audite filii Iacob audite Israhel patrem vestrum
Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob [Supplanter]. Sh'ma ·Hear obey· unto Israel [God prevails], your father.
3 Ruben primogenitus meus tu fortitudo mea et principium doloris mei prior in donis maior imperio
“Reuben [See, a son!], you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength; excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
4 effusus es sicut aqua non crescas quia ascendisti cubile patris tui et maculasti stratum eius
Boiling over like water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
5 Symeon et Levi fratres vasa iniquitatis bellantia
“Simeon [Hearing] and Levi [United with] are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.
6 in consilio eorum ne veniat anima mea et in coetu illorum non sit gloria mea quia in furore suo occiderunt virum et in voluntate sua suffoderunt murum
My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.
7 maledictus furor eorum quia pertinax et indignatio illorum quia dura dividam eos in Iacob et dispergam illos in Israhel
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob [Supplanter], and scatter them in Israel [God prevails].
8 Iuda te laudabunt fratres tui manus tua in cervicibus inimicorum tuorum adorabunt te filii patris tui
“Judah [Praised], your brothers will yadah ·extend hands in thankful praise· to you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you.
9 catulus leonis Iuda a praeda fili mi ascendisti requiescens accubuisti ut leo et quasi leaena quis suscitabit eum
Judah [Praised] 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 non auferetur sceptrum de Iuda et dux de femoribus eius donec veniat qui mittendus est et ipse erit expectatio gentium
The scepter will not depart from Judah [Praised], nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh [Him to whom obedience belongs]. To him will the obedience of the peoples be.
11 ligans ad vineam pullum suum et ad vitem o fili mi asinam suam lavabit vino stolam suam et sanguine uvae pallium suum
Binding 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.
12 pulchriores oculi eius vino et dentes lacte candidiores
His eyes will be red with wine, his teeth white with milk.
13 Zabulon in litore maris habitabit et in statione navium pertingens usque ad Sidonem
“Zebulun [Living together] will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.
14 Isachar asinus fortis accubans inter terminos
“Issachar [Hire, Reward] is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.
15 vidit requiem quod esset bona et terram quod optima et subposuit umerum suum ad portandum factusque est tributis serviens
He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor.
16 Dan iudicabit populum suum sicut et alia tribus Israhel
“Dan [He judged] will judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel [God prevails].
17 fiat Dan coluber in via cerastes in semita mordens ungulas equi ut cadat ascensor eius retro
Dan [He judged] will be a serpent on the trail, an adder in the path, That bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward.
18 salutare tuum expectabo Domine
I have waited for your yishu'ah ·salvation·, Adonai.
19 Gad accinctus proeliabitur ante eum et ipse accingetur retrorsum
“A troop will press on Gad [Good fortune], but he will press on their heel.
20 Aser pinguis panis eius et praebebit delicias regibus
“Asher [Happy]’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties.
21 Nepthalim cervus emissus et dans eloquia pulchritudinis
“Naphtali [My wrestling] is a doe set free, who bears beautiful fawns.
22 filius adcrescens Ioseph filius adcrescens et decorus aspectu filiae discurrerunt super murum
“Joseph [May he add] is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a spring. His branches run over the wall.
23 sed exasperaverunt eum et iurgati sunt invideruntque illi habentes iacula
The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecute him:
24 sedit in forti arcus eius et dissoluta sunt vincula brachiorum et manuum illius per manus potentis Iacob inde pastor egressus est lapis Israhel
But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the 'Avir Ya'akov [Mighty One of Supplanter], (from there is the Ro'i [Shepherd Provider], the 'Even Isra'el [Stone of God prevails]),
25 Deus patris tui erit adiutor tuus et Omnipotens benedicet tibi benedictionibus caeli desuper benedictionibus abyssi iacentis deorsum benedictionibus uberum et vulvae
even by the God of your father, who will help you; by Shaddai [Almighty], who will bless you, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breasts, and of the racham ·womb of compassionate love·.
26 benedictiones patris tui confortatae sunt benedictionibus patrum eius donec veniret desiderium collium aeternorum fiant in capite Ioseph et in vertice nazarei inter fratres suos
The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of your ancestors, above the boundaries of the ancient hills. They will be on the head of Joseph [May he add], on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.
27 Beniamin lupus rapax mane comedet praedam et vespere dividet spolia
“Benjamin [Son of right hand, Son of south] is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.”
28 omnes hii in tribubus Israhel duodecim haec locutus est eis pater suus benedixitque singulis benedictionibus propriis
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel [God prevails], and this is what their father spoke to them and blessed them. He blessed everyone according to his blessing.
29 et praecepit eis dicens ego congregor ad populum meum sepelite me cum patribus meis in spelunca duplici quae est in agro Ephron Hetthei
He enjoined 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 [Fawn-like] the Hittite [Descendant of Trembling fear],
30 contra Mambre in terra Chanaan quam emit Abraham cum agro ab Ephron Hettheo in possessionem sepulchri
in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah [Double], which is before Mamre [Bitter, Fatness], in the land of Canaan [Humbled], which Abraham [Father of a multitude] bought with the field from Ephron [Fawn-like] the Hittite [Descendant of Trembling fear] as a burial place.
31 ibi sepelierunt eum et Sarram uxorem eius ibi sepultus est Isaac cum Rebecca coniuge ibi et Lia condita iacet
There they buried Abraham [Father of a multitude] and Sarah [Princess], his wife. There they buried Isaac [Laughter] and Rebekah [Securely bound], his wife, and there I buried Leah [Weary]:
the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth [Trembling fear].”
33 finitisque mandatis quibus filios instruebat collegit pedes suos super lectulum et obiit adpositusque est ad populum suum
When Jacob [Supplanter] finished enjoining words to his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the spirit, and was gathered to his people.
