1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to your father Israel.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, the first sign of my strength,

excelling in honor, excelling in power.

4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,

for you went up onto your father’s bed,

onto my couch and defiled it.

1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob;

And hearken unto Israel your father.

3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn,

My might, and the beginning of my strength,

The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel;

Because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed;

Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

1 Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, “Gather around me, and I will tell you what will happen to each of you in the days to come.

2 “Come and listen, you sons of Jacob;

listen to Israel, your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength,

the child of my vigorous youth.

You are first in rank and first in power.

4 But you are as unruly as a flood,

and you will be first no longer.

For you went to bed with my wife;

you defiled my marriage couch.

1 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:

2 “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob,

And listen to Israel your father.

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.

1 Then Jacob called his sons to him. He said, “Come here to me, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future.

2 “Come together and listen, sons of Jacob.

Listen to Israel, your father.”

3 “Reuben, my first son, you are my strength.

Your birth showed I could be a father.

You have the highest position among my sons,

and you are the most powerful.

4 But you are uncontrolled like water,

so you will no longer lead your brothers.

This is because you got into your father’s bed

and shamed me by having sexual relations with my slave girl.

1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the latter days.

2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob;

And hearken unto Israel your father.

3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength;

The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.

4 Boiling over as water, 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.

1 And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, and I will tell you what will befall you at the end of days. 2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father. 3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength. 4 Impetuous as the waters, thou shalt have no pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father’s couch: Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my bed.

1 Jacob called for his sons and said, “Come here, and let me tell you what will happen to you in the days to come. 

2 “Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob. 

Listen to your father Israel. 

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, 

my strength, the very first son I had, 

first in majesty and first in power. 

4 You will no longer be first 

because you were out of control like a flood 

and you climbed into your father’s bed. 

Then you dishonored it. 

He climbed up on my couch. 

1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.

2 Come together and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to your father Israel:

3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my strength and the firstfruits of my virility,

excelling in prominence, excelling in power.

4 Turbulent as water, you will no longer excel,

because you got into your father’s bed

and you defiled it—he got into my bed.

1 Then Jacob called his sons, and said: “Gather around, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob;

listen to Israel your father.

3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might and the first fruits of my vigor,

excelling in rank and excelling in power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel

because you went up onto your father’s bed;

then you defiled it—you went up onto my couch!

1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together so that I can tell you what will happen with you in days to come.

2 Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob!

Listen to Israel your father!

3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my strength, and the firstfruit of my vigor,

excelling in rank and excelling in power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel any longer,

for you went up upon the bed of your father,

then defiled it. You went up upon my couch!

1 Then Jacob sent for his sons. He said, “Gather around me so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 “Sons of Jacob, come together and listen.

Listen to your father Israel.

3 “Reuben, you are my oldest son.

You were my first child. You were the first sign of my strength.

You were first in honor. You were first in power.

4 But you are as unsteady as water. So you won’t be first anymore.

You had sex with your father’s concubine in his bed.

You lay on his couch and made it ‘unclean.’

1 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the days to come.

2 “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob;

And listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn;

My might and the beginning of my strength,

Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

4 “Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence,

Because you went up to your father’s bed;

Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.