4. But your passion was like a flood you couldn’t control. So you will not remain my most honored son. You climbed into your father’s bed and slept with one of his wives. You brought shame to my bed, to the bed you lay on.
5. “Simeon and Levi are brothers. They are violent with their swords.
6. I will not join their secret meetings. I will not take part in their evil plans. They have killed people out of anger and crippled animals for fun.
7. Their anger is so strong that it is a curse. They are too cruel when they are angry. They will not get their own land in the land of Jacob. They will be spread throughout Israel.
8. “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will defeat your enemies. Your brothers will bow down to you.
9. Judah is like a young lion. My son, you are like a lion standing over the animal it killed. Like a lion, Judah lies down to rest, and no one is brave enough to disturb him.
10. Men from Judah’s family will be kings. The sign that his family rules will not leave his family before the real king comes. Then many people will obey and serve him.
11. He ties his donkeys to the best grapevines. He washes his clothes in the best wine.
12. His eyes are red from drinking wine. His teeth are white from drinking milk.
13. “Zebulun will live near the sea. His seacoast will be a safe place for ships. His land will continue as far as the city of Sidon.
14. “Issachar is like a donkey that has worked too hard. He will lie down under his heavy load.
15. He will see his land is pleasant and that his resting place is good. But he will agree to carry heavy loads; he will agree to work as a slave.
16. “Dan will rule his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
17. Dan will be like a snake at the side of the road. He will be like a dangerous snake lying near the path. That snake bites a horse’s foot, and the rider falls to the ground.
18. “Lord, I am waiting for your salvation.