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“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,
    excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
Boiling over like water, you shall not excel,
    because you went up to your father’s bed,
    then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

“Simeon and Levi are brothers.
    Their swords are weapons 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.