Genesis 48

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.

1Later, someone told Joseph, "Your father is sick." So Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to him.

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

2Someone told Jacob, "Your son Joseph is here." Jacob, also called Israel, gathered his strength and sat up in bed.

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

3Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty came to me at a place called Luz, in the land of Canaan. He blessed me there.

4And 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"God said, 'I will give you many children, and they will grow into many peoples. I will give this land to your family after you, to keep for always.'

5And 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"Now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were born here in Egypt before I came. They will count as my own sons, just like Reuben and Simeon.

NoteJacob is saying he will count Joseph's two boys as his own sons. That means they each get a share of the family land, like his other sons.

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

6"Any children born to you after them will be yours. They will share land under their brothers' names.

7And 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 coming back from Paddan, your mother Rachel died in Canaan, on the road. We were still a short walk from Ephrath. I buried her there beside that road. Ephrath is the town now called Bethlehem."

8And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?

8Then Israel looked at Joseph's sons and asked, "Who are these boys?"

9And 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.

9Joseph said, "They are my sons. God gave them to me here." His father said, "Please bring them to me. I want to bless them."

10Now 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.

10Israel was very old, and his eyes were weak. He could barely see. Joseph brought the boys close, and Israel kissed them and hugged them.

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

11Israel said to Joseph, "I never thought I would see your face again. Now God has even let me see your children."

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

12Then Joseph took the boys from his father's knees. He bowed low with his face to the ground.

13And 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.

13Joseph took both boys. He put Ephraim at Israel's left hand, and Manasseh at Israel's right hand. Then he led them close.

14And 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.

14But Israel crossed his arms. He put his right hand on Ephraim's head, the younger boy. He put his left hand on Manasseh's head, the older boy. He did this on purpose.

NoteIn those days, the right hand was for the bigger blessing, and it usually went to the oldest son. Jacob crossed his arms so the younger boy got the right hand.

15And 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,

15Then he blessed Joseph. He said, "My fathers Abraham and Isaac walked with God. That same God has cared for me my whole life, right up to today.

16The 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"He is the angel who kept me safe from all harm. May he bless these two boys. May they carry my name, and the names of Abraham and Isaac. May their families grow into a great many people on the earth."

Note"Redeemed me from all evil" in the old wording means kept me safe from every harm.

17And 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.

17Joseph saw his father's right hand on Ephraim's head. He did not like it. He took hold of his father's hand to move it to Manasseh's head.

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

18Joseph said, "No, Father. This one is the older son. Put your right hand on his head."

19And 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.

19But his father would not. He said, "I know, my son. I know. Manasseh's family will be great too. But his younger brother will be greater, and his family will become many nations."

20And 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.

20That day Jacob blessed them. He said, "When people in Israel bless someone, they will say, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim first, ahead of Manasseh.

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

21Then Israel said to Joseph, "Look, I am going to die soon. But God will be with all of you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

22Moreover 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 I am giving you one piece of land more than your brothers get. I took it from the Amorites with my own sword and bow."