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“Reuben, you are the firstborn,
    my strength and the firstfruit of my might,
    excelling in dignity and excelling in power.
Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence
    because you invaded your father’s bed
    and defiled my couch
    upon which you climbed.
“Simeon and Levi are brothers;
    their swords are implements of violence.

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“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.