“Reuben, you are my firstborn,
My might and (A)the beginning of my strength,
Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
[a]Uncontrollable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
(B)Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

(C)Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their [b]swords are implements of violence.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:4 Or Gushing over
  2. Genesis 49:5 Or plans; meaning uncertain

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,(A)
    my might, the first sign of my strength,(B)
    excelling in honor,(C) excelling in power.
Turbulent as the waters,(D) you will no longer excel,
    for you went up onto your father’s bed,
    onto my couch and defiled it.(E)

“Simeon(F) and Levi(G) are brothers—
    their swords[a] are weapons of violence.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.