Genesis 49:1-2,8-12 (Vespers, 1st reading)
- 1
- And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
- 2
- “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.
- 8
- “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you.
- 9
- Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?
- 10
- The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
- 11
- Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
- 12
- His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.