14 “Issachar(A) is a rawboned[a] donkey
    lying down among the sheep pens.[b](B)
15 When he sees how good is his resting place
    and how pleasant is his land,(C)
he will bend his shoulder to the burden(D)
    and submit to forced labor.(E)

16 “Dan[c](F) will provide justice for his people
    as one of the tribes of Israel.(G)
17 Dan(H) will be a snake by the roadside,
    a viper along the path,(I)
that bites the horse’s heels(J)
    so that its rider tumbles backward.

18 “I look for your deliverance,(K) Lord.(L)

19 “Gad[d](M) will be attacked by a band of raiders,
    but he will attack them at their heels.(N)

20 “Asher’s(O) food will be rich;(P)
    he will provide delicacies fit for a king.(Q)

21 “Naphtali(R) is a doe set free
    that bears beautiful fawns.[e](S)

22 “Joseph(T) is a fruitful vine,(U)
    a fruitful vine near a spring,
    whose branches(V) climb over a wall.[f]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;(W)
    they shot at him with hostility.(X)
24 But his bow remained steady,(Y)
    his strong arms(Z) stayed[g] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,(AA)
    because of the Shepherd,(AB) the Rock of Israel,(AC)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:14 Or strong
  2. Genesis 49:14 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags
  3. Genesis 49:16 Dan here means he provides justice.
  4. Genesis 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for attack and also for band of raiders.
  5. Genesis 49:21 Or free; / he utters beautiful words
  6. Genesis 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild colt, / a wild colt near a spring, / a wild donkey on a terraced hill
  7. Genesis 49:24 Or archers will attack … will shoot … will remain … will stay

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