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.

4 Unstable 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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!

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!

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.’