Genesis 49:5-12 ▼

5 Simeon (heard) and Levi (joined to) are brothers; their swords (dwelling places) are weapons of violence.

6 May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob (he grasps the heel) and scatter them in Israel (he wrestles with God).

8 Judah (praised), your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

9 Judah (praised) is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah (praised), nor the staff from between his feet (from his descendants), until Shiloh (until the one to whom tribute belongs) comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

11 He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.