Genesis, 48

1. And it came to pass after these things, that [one] told Joseph, Behold, thy father [is] sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

1. Some time later, when Joseph was told that his father was ill, he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2. And [one] told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

2. So they told Jacob that Joseph his son had come. Then Israel, mustering his strength, sat up in bed.

3. And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

3. And he said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me

4. And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an everlasting possession.

4. saying, 'I will make you fruitful and increase your number, and I will make of you a group of nations, and I will give this land to you and to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'

5. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

5. From now on your two sons who were born in Egypt, before I came to you here, are mine! Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

6. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, [and] shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

6. Only the children born after them will be yours and the land they inherit shall be known by the names of Ephraim and Manasseh.

7. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet [there was] but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same [is] Bethlehem.

7. When I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died on the journey at some distance from Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, that is Bethlehem."

8. And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who [are] these?

8. When Israel saw Joseph's sons he said, "Who are these?"

9. And Joseph said unto his father, They [are] my sons, whom God hath given me in this [place]. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

9. Joseph told his father, "They are the sons that God has given me here." Jacob said, "Bring them to me that I may bless them."

10. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, [so that] he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

10. As Israel's eyes were dim with age, he could no longer see. When Jacob brought them near, he kissed and embraced them,

11. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

11. and said to Joseph, "I didn't expect to see you again and now God is letting me see your children as well!"

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

12. Joseph lifted them from Israel's knees and he himself bowed low, his face to the ground.

13. And Joseph 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 unto him.

13. Joseph then took them both, Ephraim by his right hand to Israel's left, and Manasseh by his left hand to Israel's right.

14. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid [it] upon Ephraim's head, who [was] the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh [was] the firstborn.

14. Israel raised his right hand and placed it on Ephraim's head, although he was the younger, and placed his left hand on Manasseh's head even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

15. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

15. Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God in whose presence my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day,

16. The Angel which 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; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

16. the Angel who has saved me from every evil, bless these boys. And in them may my name live on and that of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. And may they increase greatly on the earth!"

17. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.

17. Joseph was displeased when he saw his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim's head. So he took his father's hand from Ephraim's head to place it on Manasseh

18. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this [is] the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

18. and said, "Not like that father, for this one is the elder. Place your right hand on his head."

19. And his father refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

19. But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he too will be great and become a nation. Nevertheless his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."

20. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

20. He blessed them that day in these words: "Through you Israel will bestow this blessing: May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!" So he placed Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

21. Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am going to die. God will be with you and he will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

22. Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

22. And to you, over and above what goes to your brothers, I give a mountain slope that I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."