1After these things, Joseph was told, “Look, your father is sick.” So Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him.
2Someone told Jacob, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you.” Israel gathered his strength and sat up in bed.
3Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.
4He said to me, ‘Look, I will make you fruitful and multiply your descendants, and I will make you into a group of many nations. I will give this land to your descendants after you as a lasting possession.’
5Now, your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to you here are considered mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be like Reuben and Simeon to me.
6Any children you have after them will be yours, but they will be counted as members of their brothers’ tribes when they receive their inheritance.
7As for me, when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died near me in the land of Canaan while we were still some distance from Ephrath. I buried her there along the road to Ephrath (which is also called Bethlehem).”
8Israel saw Joseph’s sons and asked, “Who are these people?”
9Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." He responded, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them."
10Israel's eyesight was poor because of his old age, so he couldn't see clearly. Joseph brought the boys close to him; and he kissed them and hugged them.
11Israel said to Joseph, "I never thought I would see you again, and look, God has even let me see your children."
12Joseph brought them out from between Israel's knees and bowed with his face to the ground.
13Joseph took both of them, Ephraim with his right hand towards Israel's left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand towards Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him.
14Israel reached out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head. He deliberately guided his hands this way, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
15He blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this very day,
16the angel who has rescued me from all harm, bless these boys. Let my name be associated with them, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a large population on the earth."
17When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, he was unhappy. He took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
18Joseph said to his father, "No, my father, this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
19His father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become many nations."
20He blessed them that day, saying, "Because of you, Israel will give blessings, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.'" In this way, he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
21Israel said to Joseph, "Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your ancestors."
22Also, I have given you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."