Jacob Blesses His Sons^(A)

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.^(B)

²⁵ After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt^(A) and make any kind of idol,^(B) doing evil^(C) in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, ²⁶ I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses^(D) against you^(E) this day that you will quickly perish^(F) from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.

¹⁵ The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites.^(A) You must listen to him. ¹⁶ For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”^(B)

¹⁷ The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. ¹⁸ I will raise up for them a prophet^(C) like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words^(D) in his mouth.^(E) He will tell them everything I command him.^{(F) 19} I myself will call to account^(G) anyone who does not listen^(H) to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.^(I)

²² For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.^{(A) 23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’^[a](B)

²⁴ “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets^(C) who have spoken have foretold these days.

²⁹ For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt^(A) and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster^(B) will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

¹⁴ Now I have come to explain^(A) to you what will happen to your people in the future,^(B) for the vision concerns a time yet to come.^(C)”