VaYechi (וַיְחִי)
Genesis 47:28 – 50:26
Fourth Aliyah
49:1
Jacob called for his sons. [When they came,] he said, ‘Come together, and I will tell you what will happen in the course of time.
Jacob called for his sons. [When they came,] he said, ‘Come together, and I will tell you what will happen in the course of time.
Vayikra Ya’akov el-banav vayomer he’asefu ve’agidah lachem et asher-yikra etchem be’acharit hayamim.
וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב, אֶל-בָּנָיו; וַיֹּאמֶר, הֵאָסְפוּ וְאַגִּידָה לָכֶם, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-יִקְרָא אֶתְכֶם, בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים.
49:2
Come and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.
Come and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.
Hikavtsu veshim’u beney Ya’akov veshim’u el-Yisra’el avichem.
הִקָּבְצוּ וְשִׁמְעוּ, בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב; וְשִׁמְעוּ, אֶל-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיכֶם.
49:3
‘Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the beginning of my manhood, first in rank and first in power.
‘Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the beginning of my manhood, first in rank and first in power.
Re’uven bechori atah kochi vereshit oni yeter set veyeter az.
רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹרִי אַתָּה, כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי–יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת, וְיֶתֶר עָז.
49:4
[But because you were] unstable as water, you will no longer be first. This is because you moved your father’s beds, committing a profane act. He moved my bed!
[But because you were] unstable as water, you will no longer be first. This is because you moved your father’s beds, committing a profane act. He moved my bed!
Pachaz kamayim al-totar ki alita mishkevey avicha az chilalta yetsu’i alah.
פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל-תּוֹתַר, כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ; אָז חִלַּלְתָּ, יְצוּעִי עָלָה.
49:5
‘Simeon and Levi are a pair; instruments of crime are their wares.
‘Simeon and Levi are a pair; instruments of crime are their wares.
Shim’on veLevi achim kley chamas mecheroteyhem.
שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי, אַחִים–כְּלֵי חָמָס, מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם.
49:6
Let my soul not enter their plot; let my spirit not unite with their meeting – for they have killed men with anger, maimed bulls with will.
Let my soul not enter their plot; let my spirit not unite with their meeting – for they have killed men with anger, maimed bulls with will.
Besodam al-tavo nafshi bikehalam al-techad kevodi ki ve’apam hargu ish uvirtsonam ikru-shor.
בְּסֹדָם אַל-תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי, בִּקְהָלָם אַל-תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי: כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ, וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ-שׁוֹר.
49:7
Cursed be their rage, for it is fierce, and their fury, for it is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob, scatter them in Israel.
Cursed be their rage, for it is fierce, and their fury, for it is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob, scatter them in Israel.
Arur apam ki az ve’evratam ki kashatah achalkem beYa’akov va’afitsem beYisra’el.
אָרוּר אַפָּם כִּי עָז, וְעֶבְרָתָם כִּי קָשָׁתָה; אֲחַלְּקֵם בְּיַעֲקֹב, וַאֲפִיצֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
49:8
‘Judah, your brothers shall submit (yodu) to you. Your hand shall be on your enemies’ necks; your father’s sons shall bow to you.
‘Judah, your brothers shall submit (yodu) to you. Your hand shall be on your enemies’ necks; your father’s sons shall bow to you.
Yehudah atah yoducha acheycha yadecha be’oref oyveycha yishtachavu lecha bney avicha.
יְהוּדָה, אַתָּה יוֹדוּךָ אַחֶיךָ–יָדְךָ, בְּעֹרֶף אֹיְבֶיךָ; יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ, בְּנֵי אָבִיךָ.
49:9
‘Young lion, Judah, you have risen from prey, my son. He crouches, lies like a lion, like an awesome lion, who will dare rouse him?
‘Young lion, Judah, you have risen from prey, my son. He crouches, lies like a lion, like an awesome lion, who will dare rouse him?
Gur aryeh Yehudah miteref beni alita kara ravats ke’aryeh uchelavi mi yekimenu.
גּוּר אַרְיֵה יְהוּדָה, מִטֶּרֶף בְּנִי עָלִיתָ; כָּרַע רָבַץ כְּאַרְיֵה וּכְלָבִיא, מִי יְקִימֶנּוּ.
49:10
‘The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor legislation from his descendants. Nations will submit to him until the final tranquility comes.
‘The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor legislation from his descendants. Nations will submit to him until the final tranquility comes.
Lo-yasur shevet mi-Yehudah umechokek mibeyn raglav ad ki-yavo shiloh velo yikhat amim.
לֹא-יָסוּר שֵׁבֶט מִיהוּדָה, וּמְחֹקֵק מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו, עַד כִּי-יָבֹא שִׁילֹה, וְלוֹ יִקְּהַת עַמִּים.
49:11
‘He loads down his donkey with a [single] grapevine, his young donkey with a single vine branch. He even washes his clothes in wine, his cloak in the blood of grapes.
‘He loads down his donkey with a [single] grapevine, his young donkey with a single vine branch. He even washes his clothes in wine, his cloak in the blood of grapes.
Osri lagefen iroh velasorekah beni atono kibes bayayin levusho uvedam anavim sutoh.
אֹסְרִי לַגֶּפֶן עִירֹה, וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָה בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֹ; כִּבֵּס בַּיַּיִן לְבֻשׁוֹ, וּבְדַם-עֲנָבִים סוּתֹה.
49:12
But his eyes are more sparkling than the wine, his teeth whiter than milk.
But his eyes are more sparkling than the wine, his teeth whiter than milk.
Chachlili eynayim miyayin ulven-shinayim mechalav.
חַכְלִילִי עֵינַיִם, מִיָּיִן; וּלְבֶן-שִׁנַּיִם, מֵחָלָב.
49:13
‘Zebulun shall settle the seashores; he will be a harbor for ships; his border shall reach Sidon.
‘Zebulun shall settle the seashores; he will be a harbor for ships; his border shall reach Sidon.
Zevulun lechof yamim yishkon vehu lechof onyot veyarchato al-Tsidon.
זְבוּלֻן, לְחוֹף יַמִּים יִשְׁכֹּן; וְהוּא לְחוֹף אֳנִיֹּת, וְיַרְכָתוֹ עַל-צִידֹן.
49:14
‘Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, stretching out between the saddlebags.
‘Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, stretching out between the saddlebags.
Yisachar chamor garem rovets beyn hamishpetayim.
יִשָּׂשכָר, חֲמֹר גָּרֶם–רֹבֵץ, בֵּין הַמִּשְׁפְּתָיִם.
49:15
But he sees that the resting place is good, and that the land is pleasant, so he will bend his back to the load, working like a slave.
But he sees that the resting place is good, and that the land is pleasant, so he will bend his back to the load, working like a slave.
Vayar menuchah ki tov ve’et-ha’arets ki na’emah vayet shichmo lisbol vayehi lemas-oved.
וַיַּרְא מְנֻחָה כִּי טוֹב, וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ כִּי נָעֵמָה; וַיֵּט שִׁכְמוֹ לִסְבֹּל, וַיְהִי לְמַס-עֹבֵד.
49:16
‘Dan shall fight for (dan) his people, like any one of the tribes of Israel.
‘Dan shall fight for (dan) his people, like any one of the tribes of Israel.
Dan yadin amo ke’achad shivtey Yisra’el.
דָּן, יָדִין עַמּוֹ–כְּאַחַד, שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
49:17
Let Dan be a snake on the road, a viper on the path, biting the horse’s heel, so the rider falls backward.
Let Dan be a snake on the road, a viper on the path, biting the horse’s heel, so the rider falls backward.
Yehi Dan nachash aley-derech Shfifon aley-orach hanoshech ikvey-sus vayipol rochevo achor.
יְהִי-דָן נָחָשׁ עֲלֵי-דֶרֶךְ, שְׁפִיפֹן עֲלֵי-אֹרַח–הַנֹּשֵׁךְ, עִקְּבֵי-סוּס, וַיִּפֹּל רֹכְבוֹ, אָחוֹר.
49:18
I pray that God will help you.
I pray that God will help you.
Lishu’atcha kiviti Adonay.
לִישׁוּעָתְךָ, קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה.