1 A fter these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

After this Joseph was told, “See, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.

2 S omeone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.

When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel gathered his strength and sat up in bed.

3 J acob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

Then Jacob said to Joseph, “The All-powerful God showed Himself to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and He brought good to me.

4 a nd said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’

He said to me, ‘See, I will give you many children. I will make you a group of nations. And I will give this land to your children and to your children’s children after you. It will belong to them forever.’

5 N ow your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine.

Now your two sons, who were born to you in Egypt before I came to you here, are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.

6 Y our issue, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

The children born to you after them will be yours. They will be called by the names of their brothers in their share of what the family is to receive.

7 A s for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”

For when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by my side in the land of Canaan before we came to Ephrath. I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

8 I srael saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

9 J oseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So Israel said, “Bring them to me, so I may pray that good will come to them.”

10 N ow the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see. He brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

Now Israel’s eyes had become weak from being old, and he could not see. So Joseph brought them near to him. And Israel kissed them and put his arms around them.

11 I srael said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”

Israel said to Joseph, “I never thought I would see your face. But see, God has let me see your children also.”

12 J oseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed to the ground.

13 J oseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him.

Then taking Ephraim with his right hand, Joseph put him at Israel’s left side. And with his left hand he put Manasseh at Israel’s right side, placing them near him.

14 I srael stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

But Israel put out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, the younger son. And he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands. But Manasseh was the first-born.

15 H e blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day,

Then he prayed that good would come to Joseph, and said, “The God with Whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God Who has been my Shepherd all my life to this day,

16 t he angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

the Angel Who has set me free from all sin, bring good to the boys. May my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac live on in them. May they become a great nation on the earth.”

17 W hen Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was not pleased. He took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

18 J oseph said to his father, “Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father, for this one is the first-born. Place your right hand on his head.”

19 H is father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations.”

But his father would not, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He will become a nation also, and he also will be great. But his younger brother will be greater than he. His children and their children’s children will become many nations.”

20 H e blessed them that day, saying, “In you will Israel bless, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Then he prayed that day that good would come to them. He said, “By you Israel will pray that good will come, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’” So he placed Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 I srael said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.

Then Israel said to Joseph, “See, I am about to die. But God will be with you. He will return you to the land of your fathers.

22 M oreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

I have given you more than your brothers. I have given you the side of the mountain that I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”