Understanding God's Heart For Us in Song
1 Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.
2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
4 Boiling over like water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.
6 My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down before you.
9 Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up?