Genesis 49:13–27

¹³“Zebulun will live beside the sea.

His shore will be a haven for ships.

His territory will reach as far as Sidon.

¹⁴“Issachar is no better than a donkey

That lies stretched out between its saddlebags.

¹⁵But he sees that the resting place is good

And that the land is delightful.

So he bends his back to carry the load

And is forced to work as a slave.

¹⁶“Dan will be a ruler for his people.

They will be like the other tribes of Israel.

¹⁷Dan will be a snake at the side of the road,

A poisonous snake beside the path,

That strikes at the horse’s heel,

So that the rider is thrown off backwards.

¹⁸“I wait for your deliverance, Lord.

¹⁹“Gad will be attacked by a band of robbers,

But he will turn and pursue them.

²⁰“Asher’s land will produce rich food.

He will provide food fit for a king.

²¹“Naphtali is a deer that runs free,

Who bears lovely fawns.^f

²²“Joseph is like a wild donkey by a spring,

A wild colt on a hillside.^g

²³His enemies attack him fiercely

And pursue him with their bows and arrows.

²⁴But his bow remains steady,

And his arms are made strong^h

By the power of the Mighty God of Jacob,

By the Shepherd, the Protector of Israel.

²⁵It is your father’s God who helps you,

The Almighty God who blesses you

With blessings of rain from above

And of deep waters from beneath the ground,

Blessings of many cattle and children,

²⁶Blessings of corn and flowers,ⁱ

Blessings of ancient

mountains,^j

Delightful things from everlasting hills.

May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph,

On the brow of the one set apart from his brothers.

²⁷“Benjamin is like a vicious wolf.

Morning and evening he kills and devours.”