Genesis 49:3–4

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,

preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

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!

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, the first sign of my strength,

excelling in honor, excelling in power.

Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,

for you went up onto your father’s bed,

onto my couch and defiled it.

Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my strength and the firstfruits of my virility,

excelling in prominence, excelling in power.

Turbulent as water, you will not excel,

because you got into your father’s bed

and you defiled it—he got into my bed.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength,

the child of my vigorous youth.

You are first in rank and first in power.

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.

Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my strength, and the firstfruit of my vigor,

excelling in rank and excelling in power.

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!

Reuben, thou art my firstborn,

My might, and the beginning of my strength,

The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

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.