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9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given to me in this place.” And he said, “Bring them, please, to me, and I will bless them.” 10 And the eyes of Israel were heavy from old age; he was not able to see. And he brought them near to him, and he kissed them and he embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “To see your face I had not expected, and behold, God has shown me also your seed.” 12 And Joseph brought them from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his nose to the earth. 13 And Joseph took the two of them: Ephraim in his right hand, from the left of Israel, and Manasseh in his left hand, from the right of Israel, and he brought them near to him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and set it on the head of Ephraim—and he was the younger—and his left hand on the head of Manasseh; he acted wisely with his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd from my continued being unto this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, may he bless the boys. And let my name be called upon them, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they multiply like fish into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 17 And Joseph saw that his father had set his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and it was evil in his eyes; and he took hold of the hand of his father to remove it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasseh. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; set your right hand on his head.” 19 And his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know! He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. And yet, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become the fullness of the nations.” 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.’” And he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Genesis 48:9-20, Berean Literal Bible. Public domain.
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