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 firstbecause you were out of control like a floodand you climbed into your father’s bed.Then you dishonored it.He climbed up on my couch.
5. “Simeon and Levi are brothers.Their swords are weapons of violence.
6. Do not let me attend their secret meetings.Do not let me join their assembly.In their anger they murdered men.At their whim they crippled cattle.
7. May their anger be cursed because it’s so fierce.May their fury be cursed because it’s so cruel.I will divide them among ⌊the sons of⌋ Jacoband scatter them among ⌊the tribes of⌋ Israel.
8. “Judah, your brothers will praise you.Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies.Your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9. Judah, you are a lion cub.You have come back from the kill, my son.He lies down and rests like a lion.He is like a lioness. Who dares to disturb him?
10. A scepter will never depart from Judahnor a ruler’s staff from between his feetuntil Shiloh comesand the people obey him.
11. He will tie his donkey to a grapevine,his colt to the best vine.He will wash his clothes in wine,his garments in the blood of grapes.
12. His eyes are darker than wine.His teeth are whiter than milk.
13. “Zebulun will live by the coast.He will have ships by the coast.His border will go as far as Sidon.
14. “Issachar is a strong donkey,lying down between the saddlebags.