1 These things being so done, it was told Joseph that his father was sick: who, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim, went forward.
1 After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick; and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.
2 And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to thee. Who being strengthened sat on his bed.
2 And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to thee. And being strengthened, he sat on his bed.
3 And Joseph being entered in to him, he said: God Almighty appeared to me in Luza, which is in the Land of Chanaan: and he blessed me,
3 And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: ¹God almighty appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed me,
4 and said: I will increase, and multiply thee, and make thee into multitudes of peoples: and I will give thee this land, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
4 And said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
5 Thy two sons therefore which were born to thee in the Land of Ægypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: Ephraim and Manasses, as Ruben and Simeon shall be reputed to me.
5 ²So thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt before I came hither to thee, shall be mine: ³Ephraim and Manasses shall be reputed to me as Ruben and Simeon.
6 But the rest begotten of thee after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.
6 But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.
7 For unto me, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I entered into Ephrata, and buried her by the way side to Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethleem.
7 For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, ⁴Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.
8 And seeing his sons he said to him: Who are these?
8 Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?
9 He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. Bring them, quoth he, to me, that I may bless them.
9 He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them.
10 For Israel's eyes were dim by reason of very great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were set beside him, kissing and embracing them,
10 For Israel’s eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them,
11 he said to his son: I am not defrauded of thy sight, moreover God hath shewed me thy seed.
11 And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee; moreover God hath shown me thy seed.
12 And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he adored prostrate unto the ground.
12 And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground.
13 And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, on the left hand of Israel: but Manasses on his own left hand, to wit, on his father's right hand, and put them near to him.
13 And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his father’s right hand, and brought them near to him.
14 Who stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother: and the left upon the head of Manasses, that was the elder, changing hands.
14 But he, stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim, the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses, who was the elder, changing his hands.
15 And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham & Isaac have walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this present day:
15 ⁵And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this day:
16 The Angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these children: and be my name called upon them, the names also of my fathers Abraham, and Isaac, and grow they into a multitude upon the earth.
16 ⁶The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys: and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.
17 And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, took it heavily: and taking his father's hand he went about to lift it from Ephraim's head & to remove it upon the head of Manasses.
17 And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father’s hand, he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head, and to remove it to the head of Manasses.
18 And he said to his father: It is not convenient father so to be: because this is the first-begotten put thy right hand upon his head.
18 And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father; for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.
19 Who refusing, said: I know my son, I know: and this same indeed shall be into peoples, and shall be multiplied: but his younger brother shall be greater than he: and his seed shall grow into nations.
19 But he refusing, said: I know, my son, I know: and this also shall become a people, and shall be multiplied; but his younger brother shall be greater than he; and his seed shall grow into nations.
20 And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel be blessed, and it shall be said: God do unto thee as unto Ephraim, & as unto Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.
20 And he blessed them at that time, saying: In thee shall Israel be blessed, and it shall be said: God do to thee as to Ephraim, and as to Manasses. And he set Ephraim before Manasses.
21 And he said to Joseph his son: Behold I die, & God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.
21 And he said to Joseph, his son: Behold I die, and God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.
22 I do give thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorrhean with my sword and bow.
22 ⁷I give thee a portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorrhite ⁸with my sword and bow.