Jacob called for his sons and said, "Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future:

But his bow remains steady, And his arms are made strong By the power of the Mighty God of Jacob, By the Shepherd, the Protector of Israel.

Blessings of grain and flowers, Blessings of ancient mountains, Delightful things from everlasting hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, On the brow of the one set apart from his brothers.

He said to all the people, "This stone will be our witness. It has heard all the words that the LORD has spoken to us. So it will be a witness against you, to keep you from rebelling against your God."

After that, the LORD's servant Joshua son of Nun died at the age of a hundred and ten.

It was faith that made Joseph, when he was about to die, speak of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and leave instructions about what should be done with his body.

Then Jacob commanded his sons, "Now that I am going to join my people in death, bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

The LORD took him outside and said, "Look at the sky and try to count the stars; you will have as many descendants as that."

(SEE 25:7)

Ishmael was 137 years old when he died.

and died at a ripe old age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Like wheat that ripens till harvest time, you will live to a ripe old age.

But we die, and that is the end of us; we die, and where are we then?

I know you are taking me off to my death, to the fate in store for everyone.

Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us.

Good people die, and no one understands or even cares. But when they die, no calamity can hurt them.

Those who live good lives find peace and rest in death.

"Now, Lord, you have kept your promise, and you may let your servant go in peace.

It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth.

They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return.

You have come to the joyful gathering of God's first-born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the judge of all people, and to the spirits of good people made perfect.