10 And the eyes of Israel are dull because of old age; he could not see clearly. Joseph led them to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

11 And Israel said to Joseph, 'I did not hope to see your face; but behold, God has shown me also thy children.

12 And Joseph led them away from his knees, and bowed down to him with his face to the ground.

13 And Joseph took both [his sons], Ephraim in his right hand against the left of Israel, and Manasseh in his left hand against the right of Israel, and brought him to him.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon the head of Ephraim, though he was the youngest, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh. With the intention he laid down his hands in this way, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, 'The God with whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has shepherded me from the time that I exist until this day,

16 The angel who delivereth me from all evil, may he bless these young men; my name and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac shall be called upon them, and they may grow in great numbers in the midst of the earth.

17 And Joseph saw that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim's head; and he was sorry for it. And he took his father's hand, to put it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasseh;

18 And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.

19 But his father would not consent, and said, 'I know, my son, I know; and from him shall come a nation, and he shall be great; but his younger brother will be greater than he, and from his seed will come a great nation.

20 And he blessed them in that day, saying, 'Israel shall bless thee, saying, May God do unto thee as to Ephraim and Manasseh.' And he set Ephraim above Manasseh.

21 And Israel said to Joseph, 'Behold, I am dying; and God will be with you, and will bring you back to the land of your fathers;

22 And I give thee, chiefly before thy brethren, a certain portion, which I took out of the hand of the Amorites with my sword and my bow.

Chapter 49