“Simeon(A) and Levi(B) are brothers—
    their swords[a] are weapons of violence.(C)
Let me not enter their council,
    let me not join their assembly,(D)
for they have killed men in their anger(E)
    and hamstrung(F) oxen as they pleased.
Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
    and their fury,(G) so cruel!(H)
I will scatter them in Jacob
    and disperse them in Israel.(I)

“Judah,[b](J) your brothers will praise you;
    your hand will be on the neck(K) of your enemies;
    your father’s sons will bow down to you.(L)
You are a lion’s(M) cub,(N) Judah;(O)
    you return from the prey,(P) my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
    like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,(Q)
    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c]
until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come(R)
    and the obedience of the nations shall be his.(S)
11 He will tether his donkey(T) to a vine,
    his colt to the choicest branch;(U)
he will wash his garments in wine,
    his robes in the blood of grapes.(V)
12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
    his teeth whiter than milk.[e](W)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Genesis 49:8 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.
  3. Genesis 49:10 Or from his descendants
  4. Genesis 49:10 Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  5. Genesis 49:12 Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from milk

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