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Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob;
    listen to Israel your father.

‘Reuben, you are my firstborn,
    my might and the first fruits of my vigour,
    excelling in rank and excelling in power.
Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel
    because you went up on to your father’s bed;
    then you defiled it—you[a] went up on to my couch!

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:4 Gk Syr Tg: Heb he

“Assemble(A) and listen, sons of Jacob;
    listen to your father Israel.(B)

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,(C)
    my might, the first sign of my strength,(D)
    excelling in honor,(E) excelling in power.
Turbulent as the waters,(F) you will no longer excel,
    for you went up onto your father’s bed,
    onto my couch and defiled it.(G)

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