Genesis 49:1-12   New International Version Jacob Blesses His Sons

49 Then 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. 4 Turbulent 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[a] are weapons of violence. 6 Let 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. 7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce,     and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob     and disperse them in Israel.

8 “Judah,[b] your brothers will praise you;     your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;     your father’s sons will bow down to you. 9 You 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? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,     nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c] until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come     and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 11 He 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. 12 His eyes will be darker than wine,     his teeth whiter than milk.[e]