3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,my might and the beginning of my strength,the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel,because you went up to your father’s bed;then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.
5 Simeon and Levi are brothers;weapons of violence are their swords.
6 Let my soul not enter into their council;let my glory not be united with their assembly;for in their anger they killed menand in their self-will they hamstrung oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;and their wrath, for it is cruel!I will divide them in Jacoband scatter them in Israel.
8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you;your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;your father’s sons will bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion’s cub;from the prey, my son, you have goneup.He crouches and lies down like a lion;and as a lion, who dares rouse him?