JACOB’S LAST WORDS

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

2 Come together and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to your father Israel:

3 Reuben, you are my firstborn,t

my strength and the firstfruits of my virility,u

excelling in prominence, excelling in power.

4 Turbulent as water, you will not excel,

because you got into your father’s bedv

and you defiled it—heG got into my bed.

5 Simeon and Levi are brothers;

their knives are vicious weapons.a

6 May I never enter their council;

may I never join their assembly.

For in their anger they kill men,

and on a whim they hamstring oxen.

7 Their anger is cursed, for it is strong,

and their fury, for it is cruel!

I will disperse them throughout Jacob

and scatter them throughout Israel.b