8-12. You, Judah, your brothers will praise you:Your fingers on your enemies’ throat,while your brothers honor you.You’re a lion’s cub, Judah,home fresh from the kill, my son.Look at him, crouched like a lion, king of beasts;who dares mess with him?The scepter shall not leave Judah;he’ll keep a firm grip on the command staffUntil the ultimate ruler comesand the nations obey him.He’ll tie up his donkey to the grapevine,his purebred prize to a sturdy branch.He will wash his shirt in wineand his cloak in the blood of grapes,His eyes will be darker than wine,his teeth whiter than milk.
13. Zebulun settles down on the seashore;he’s a safe harbor for ships,right alongside Sidon.
14-15. Issachar is one tough donkeycrouching between the corrals;When he saw how good the place was,how pleasant the country,He gave up his freedomand went to work as a slave.
16-17. Dan will handle matters of justice for his people;he will hold his own just fine among the tribes of Israel.Dan is only a small snake in the grass,a lethal serpent in ambush by the roadWhen he strikes a horse in the heel,and brings its huge rider crashing down.
18. I wait in hopefor your salvation, God.