²⁸ All these are the twelve tribes of Israel,^(A) and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing^(B) appropriate to him.

The Death of Jacob

²⁹ Then he gave them these instructions:^(C) “I am about to be gathered to my people.^(D) Bury me with my fathers^(E) in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,^{(F) 30} the cave in the field of Machpelah,^(G) near Mamre^(H) in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field^(I) as a burial place^(J) from Ephron the Hittite. ³¹ There Abraham^(K) and his wife Sarah^(L) were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah^(M) were buried, and there I buried Leah.^{(N) 32} The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.^[a](O)”

³³ When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.^(P)

⁴ May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham,^(A) so that you may take possession of the land^(B) where you now reside as a foreigner,^(C) the land God gave to Abraham.”

¹³ There above it^[a] stood the Lord,^(A) and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.^(B) I will give you and your descendants the land^(C) on which you are lying.^{(D) 14} Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you^(E) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.^(F) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.^{[b](G) 15} I am with you^(H) and will watch over you^(I) wherever you go,^(J) and I will bring you back to this land.^(K) I will not leave you^(L) until I have done what I have promised you.^(M)”^(N)

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing^(A) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,^(B)

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(A) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(B) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(C)

⁹ Do not repay evil with evil^(A) or insult with insult.^(B) On the contrary, repay evil with blessing,^(C) because to this^(D) you were called^(E) so that you may inherit a blessing.^(F)