| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. | 1After these things Joseph was told, "Your father is weakening." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. |
| 2And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. | 2When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has just come to you," Israel regained strength and sat up on his bed. |
| 3Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, | 3Jacob said to Joseph, "The sovereign God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. |
| 4and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’ | 4He said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will multiply you. I will make you into a group of nations, and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.' |
| 5And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. | 5"Now, as for your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, they will be mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine just as Reuben and Simeon are. |
| 6Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. | 6Any children that you father after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance. |
| 7But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” | 7But as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died--to my sorrow--in the land of Canaan. It happened along the way, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there on the way to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem). |
| 8Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” | 8When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he asked, "Who are these?" |
| 9Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” | 9Joseph said to his father, "They are the sons God has given me in this place." His father said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them." |
| 10Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. | 10Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. |
| 11And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!” | 11Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too." |
| 12So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. | 12So Joseph moved them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. |
| 13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. | 13Joseph positioned them; he put Ephraim on his right hand across from Israel's left hand, and Manasseh on his left hand across from Israel's right hand. Then Joseph brought them closer to his father. |
| 14Then Israel 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. | 14Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim's head, although he was the younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, for Manasseh was the firstborn. |
| 15And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, | 15Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked--the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, |
| 16The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” | 16the Angel who has protected me from all harm--bless these boys. May my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a multitude on the earth." |
| 17Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. | 17When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him. So he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. |
| 18And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” | 18Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head." |
| 19But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” | 19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a nation and he too will become great. In spite of this, his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will become a multitude of nations." |
| 20So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh. | 20So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you will Israel bless, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim before Manasseh. |
| 21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. | 21Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. |
| 22Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.” | 22As one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow." |
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