It is unclear what the function of the first part of the verse is and how it may relate to the rest of the statements about Simeon and Levi. The form of the line is in the poetic style of Psa 42.5; 57.8; 103.1.
O my soul: if these are the words of Jacob, we must assume he is addressing himself, and this will most often be expressed as “I.” The Hebrew expression gives emphasis to what follows by relating these statements to his innermost thoughts and feelings.
Come not into their council: council refers here to a circle or group of intimate friends who devise evil plans and schemes. It is as in Psa 1.1. Good News Translation translates the thought well. We may also say, for example, “I will not join in your secret plans.”
O my spirit: spirit translates a Hebrew word that can mean “glory” (see Revised Standard Version footnote) and which is used as a poetic expression for the most noble feature of a person. Good News Translation translates both my soul and my spirit by “I,” as do many modern translations. However, Revised English Bible attempt to retain the poetic language with “My soul … my heart.” New Revised Standard Version has revised Revised Standard Version to agree with Good News Translation, which many translators will also want to follow.
Be not joined to their company: this thought is parallel in meaning to that in the previous line. Company translates a noun meaning “assembly” or “meeting.” Joined to their company means to participate or take part in their meetings. See Good News Translation.
The second half of verse 6 gives the reason for the statements made in the first half.
For in their anger they slay men: their refers to Simeon and Levi. The poet alludes to 34.26, where Simeon and Levi killed Hamor and his son Shechem. If the translator has used “your [plural or dual]” in verse 5, it will be necessary to say, for example, “in your anger you slay…” Men is singular in the Hebrew, but most understand this to be collective. This statement may often be expressed as “they killed people because they were angry” or “they became angry and killed people.”
In their wantonness they hamstring oxen: there is no reference in the story of chapter 34 to Simeon and Levi doing this. However, Driver says it is “apparently a figurative description of the same act” (that is, the massacre of the people of Shechem). It follows the tendency of Hebrew poetry, in which the metaphor follows the literal expression.
Wantonness translates a word meaning “will,” “desire,” “pleasure.” The thought expressed is that of doing something willfully, for self-gratification, or to get pleasure from it. Although not commonly used in English, wantonness expresses the idea of doing something malicious or cruel without provocation, often without regard for what is right or lawful. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “for pure whim.” One other translation says “they cripple bullocks for fun.”
Hamstring an animal means to cut the sinews in the hind leg and thus to make the animal lame. See Josh 11.6 and 2 Sam 8.4. Translators may find a more general expression is suitable. Bible en français courant says “disabled some bulls,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “broke the hooves of oxen,” and New Jerusalem Bible “… maimed oxen.”
If the language requires stating the reason before the conclusion, then the translator may need to say, for example,
They [You—plural or dual] angrily killed people
and they [you] willfully hamstrung oxen.
Therefore I will not meet with them [you]
and I will not attend their [your] meetings.
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .