Genesis 49:2-10

Good News Translation

² “Come together and listen, sons of Jacob.
Listen to your father Israel.

³ “Reuben, my first-born, you are my strength
And the first child of my manhood,
The proudest and strongest of all my sons.
⁴ You are like a raging flood,
But you will not be the most important,
For you slept with my concubine
And dishonored your father's bed.

⁵ “Simeon and Levi are brothers.
They use their weapons to commit violence.
⁶ I will not join in their secret talks,
Nor will I take part in their meetings,
For they killed people in anger
And they crippled bulls for sport.
⁷ A curse be on their anger, because it is so fierce,
And on their fury, because it is so cruel.
I will scatter them throughout the land of Israel.
I will disperse them among its people.

⁸ “Judah, your brothers will praise you.
You hold your enemies by the neck.
Your brothers will bow down before you.
^9 (A)Judah is like a lion,
Killing his victim and returning to his den,
Stretching out and lying down.
No one dares disturb him.
¹⁰ Judah will hold the royal scepter,
And his descendants will always rule.
Nations will bring him tribute^[a]
And bow in obedience before him.