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    Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the [a]beginning of my strength;
The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
Boiling over as water, [b]thou shalt not have the pre-eminence;
Because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed;
Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
    Simeon and Levi are brethren;
Weapons of violence are their [c]swords.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:3 Or, first-fruits
  2. Genesis 49:4 Or, have not thou
  3. Genesis 49:5 Or, compacts

“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.