Genesis 49:1-8
New American Standard Bible 1995
Israel’s Prophecy concerning His Sons
49 Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you (A)in the [a]days to come.
2 “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob;
And (B)listen to Israel your father.
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn;
My might and (C)the beginning of my strength,
[b]Preeminent in dignity and [c]preeminent in power.
4 “[d]Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence,
(D)Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.
5 “(E)Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Their swords are implements of violence.
6 “(F)Let my soul not enter into their council;
Let not my glory be united with their assembly;
Because in their anger they slew [e]men,
And in their self-will they lamed [f]oxen.
7 “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel.
(G)I will [g]disperse them in Jacob,
And scatter them in Israel.
8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
(H)Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
Footnotes
- Genesis 49:1 Lit end of the days
- Genesis 49:3 Lit preeminence
- Genesis 49:3 Lit preeminence
- Genesis 49:4 Or Boiling over; lit Recklessness
- Genesis 49:6 Lit a man
- Genesis 49:6 Lit an ox
- Genesis 49:7 Lit divide
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.