NLT One Year Bible - Flipbook - Page 93
89
J A N U A R Y
the colt of his donkey to a choice
vine.
He washes his clothes in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth are whiter than
milk.
13
“Zebulun will settle by the seashore
and will be a harbor for ships;
his borders will extend to Sidon.
“Issachar is a sturdy donkey,
resting between two
saddlepacks.*
15 When he sees how good the
countryside is
and how pleasant the land,
he will bend his shoulder to the load
and submit himself to hard labor.
14
“Dan will govern his people,
like any other tribe in Israel.
17 Dan will be a snake beside the road,
a poisonous viper along the path
that bites the horse’s hooves
so its rider is thrown off.
18 I trust in you for salvation, O Lord!
16
19
“Gad will be attacked by marauding
bands,
but he will attack them when they
retreat.
20
“Asher will dine on rich foods
and produce food fit for kings.
21
“Naphtali is a doe set free
that bears beautiful fawns.
“Joseph is the foal of a wild donkey,
the foal of a wild donkey at a
spring—
one of the wild donkeys on the
ridge.*
23 Archers attacked him savagely;
they shot at him and harassed
him.
24 But his bow remained taut,
and his arms were strengthened
by the hands of the Mighty One
of Jacob,
by the Shepherd, the Rock of
Israel.
25 May the God of your father help you;
22
2 4
may the Almighty bless you
with the blessings of the heavens
above,
and blessings of the watery
depths below,
and blessings of the breasts and
womb.
26 May my fatherly blessings on you
surpass the blessings of my
ancestors,*
reaching to the heights of the
eternal hills.
May these blessings rest on the
head of Joseph,
who is a prince among his
brothers.
27
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
devouring his enemies in the
morning
and dividing his plunder in the
evening.”
28These are the twelve tribes of Israel,
and this is what their father said as he
told his sons good-bye. He blessed each
one with an appropriate message.
29 Then Jacob instructed them, “Soon
I will die and join my ancestors. Bury me
with my father and grandfather in the
cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
30This is the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as
a permanent burial site. 31There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried.
There Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, are
buried. And there I buried Leah. 32It is
the plot of land and the cave that my
grandfather Abraham bought from the
Hittites.”
33 When Jacob had finished this
charge to his sons, he drew his feet into
the bed, breathed his last, and joined his
ancestors in death.
48:2 Hebrew Israel; also in 48:8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 21. See note
on 35:21. 48:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai. 48:4 Hebrew seed;
also in 48:19. 48:7 Hebrew Paddan, referring to Paddanaram; compare Gen 35:9. 48:22 Or an extra ridge of land.
The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 49:10a Hebrew
from between his feet. 49:10b Or until tribute is brought
to him and the peoples obey; traditionally rendered until
Shiloh comes. 49:14 Or sheepfolds, or hearths. 49:22 Or
Joseph is a fruitful tree, / a fruitful tree beside a spring. / His
branches reach over the wall. The meaning of the Hebrew is
uncertain. 49:26 Or of the ancient mountains.
