2. “Children of Jacob, gather around. Come listen to Israel, your father.
3. “Reuben, my first son, you are my strength, the first proof of my manhood. You were the most honored and powerful of all my sons.
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.