World English Bible
"Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch."
— Genesis 49:4, World English Bible
“Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.”
“Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. ”
“You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father’s bed, then you defiled it– he got on my couch!”
“Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.”
“But because you were uncontrolled, the first place will not be yours; for you went up to your father's bed, even his bride-bed, and made it unclean.”
“Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.”
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.
Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.
"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength; excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
"Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.
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.
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.