56 S Genesis 49:9
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, a
until he to whom it belongs b 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. c
13 “Zebulun will live by the seashore
and become a haven for ships;
his border will extend toward Sidon.
14 “Issachar is a rawboned d donkey
lying down among the sheep pens. e
15 When he sees how good is his resting place
and how pleasant is his land,
he will bend his shoulder to the burden
and submit to forced labor.
16 “Dan f will provide justice for his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan will be a snake by the roadside,
a viper along the path,
that bites the horse’s heels
so that its rider tumbles backward.
18 “I look for your deliverance, Lord.
19 “Gad g will be attacked by a band of raiders,
but he will attack them at their heels.
20 “Asher’s food will be rich;
he will provide delicacies fit for a king.
21 “Naphtali is a doe set free
that bears beautiful fawns. h
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall. i
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed j limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, k who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
a 10 Or
from his descendants b 10 Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the
Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. c 12 Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from
milk d 14 Or strong e 14 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags f 16 Dan here means
he provides justice. g 19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for attack and also for band of
raiders. h 21 Or free; / he utters beautiful words i 22 Or Joseph is a wild colt, / a wild
colt near a spring, / a wild donkey on a terraced hill j 23,24 Or archers will attack . . . will
shoot . . . will remain . . . will stay k 25 Hebrew Shaddai