3 Reuben, you are my oldest son,my strength and my first contender,superior in status and superior in might.
4 As wild as the waters, you won’t endure,for you went up to your father’s bed,you went up and violated my couch.
5 Simeon and Levi are brothers,weapons of violence their stock in trade.
6 May I myself never enter their council.May my honor never be linked to their group;for when they were angry, they killed men,and whenever they wished, they maimed oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger; it is violent,their rage; it is relentless.I’ll divide them up within Jacoband disperse them within Israel.
8 Judah, you are the one your brothers will honor;your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 Judah is a lion’s cub;from the prey, my son, you rise up.He lies down and crouches like a lion;like a lioness—who dares disturb him?