Genesis 49:13-27

¶“Zebulun shall dwell at the seashore; And he shall be a haven (landing place) for ships, And his flank shall be toward Sidon. ¶“Issachar is [like] a strong-boned donkey, Crouching down between the sheepfolds. “When he saw that the resting place was good And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear [burdens], And became a servant at forced labor. ¶“Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel. “Dan shall be a [venomous] serpent in the way, A fanged snake in the path, That bites the horse’s heels, So that his rider falls backward. “I wait for Your salvation, O LORD. ¶“As for Gad—a raiding troop shall raid him, But he shall raid at their heels and assault them [victoriously]. ¶“Asher’s food [supply] shall be rich and bountiful, And he shall yield and deliver royal delights. ¶“Naphtali is a doe let loose, [a swift warrior,] Which yields branched antlers (eloquent words). ¶“Joseph is a fruitful bough (a main branch of the vine), A fruitful bough by a spring (a well, a fountain); Its branches run over the wall [influencing others]. “The [skilled] archers have bitterly attacked and provoked him; They have shot [at him] and harassed him. “But his bow remained firm and steady [in the Strength that does not fail], For his arms were made strong and agile By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (By the name of the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), [Gen 48:15; Deut 32:4; Is 9:6; 49:26] By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who blesses you With blessings of the heavens above, Blessings lying in the deep that couches beneath, Blessings of the [nursing] breasts and of the [fertile] womb. “The blessings of your father Are greater than the blessings of my ancestors [Abraham and Isaac] Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; They shall be on the head of Joseph, Even on the crown of the head of him who was the distinguished one and the one who is prince among (separate from) his brothers. ¶“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And at night he divides the spoil.”