Study Desk

"Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and ^(C1)the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

-"^(F1)Uncontrollable as water, you shall not have preeminence, ^(C1)Because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

"^(C1)Simeon and Levi are brothers; Their ^(F1)swords are implements of violence.

-"^(C1)May my soul not enter into their council; May my glory not be united with their assembly; For in their anger they killed ^(F1)men, And in their self-will they lamed ^(F2)oxen.

-"Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel. ^(C1)I will scatter them in Jacob, And disperse them among Israel.

"As for you, Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; ^(C1)Your father's sons shall bow down to you.

-"Judah is a ^(C1)lion's cub; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. ^(C2)He ^(F1)crouches, he lies down as a lion, And as a ^(F2)lion, who ^(F3)dares to stir him up?

-"^(C1)The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, ^(F1)Until Shiloh comes, And ^(C2)to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.