1Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, 'Behold, your father is sick.' So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.
1這事以後，有人告訴約瑟說：你的父親病了。他就帶著兩個兒子瑪拿西和以法蓮同去。
2When it was told to Jacob, 'Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,' Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed.
2有人告訴雅各說：請看，你兒子約瑟到你這裡來了。以色列就勉強在床上坐起來。
3Then Jacob said to Joseph, 'God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,
3雅各對約瑟說：全能的神曾在迦南地的路斯向我顯現，賜福與我，
4and He said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.'
4對我說：我必使你生養眾多，成為多民，又要把這地賜給你的後裔，永遠為業。
5'Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.
5未到埃及見你之先，你在埃及地所生的以法蓮和瑪拿西這兩個兒子是我的，正如流便和西緬是我的一樣。
6'But your offspring that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance.
6你在他們以後所生的就是你的，他們可以歸於他們弟兄的名下得產業。
7'Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).'
7至於我，我從巴旦來的時候，拉結死在我眼前，在迦南地的路上，離以法他還有一段路程，我就把他葬在以法他的路上〈以法他就是伯利恆〉。
8When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, 'Who are these?'
8以色列看見約瑟的兩個兒子，就說：這是誰？
9Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons, whom God has given me here.' So he said, 'Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.'
9約瑟對他父親說：這是神在這裡賜給我的兒子。以色列說：請你領他們到我跟前，我要給他們祝福。
10Now the eyes of Israel were [so] dim from age [that] he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
10以色列年紀老邁，眼睛昏花，不能看見。約瑟領他們到他跟前，他就和他們親嘴，抱著他們。
11Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well.'
11以色列對約瑟說：我想不到得見你的面，不料，神又使我得見你的兒子。
12Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground.
12約瑟把兩個兒子從以色列兩膝中領出來，自己就臉伏於地下拜。
13Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them close to him.
13隨後，約瑟又拉著他們兩個，以法蓮在他的右手裡，對著以色列的左手，瑪拿西在他的左手裡，對著以色列的右手，領他們到以色列的跟前。
14But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.
14以色列伸出右手來，按在以法蓮的頭上〈以法蓮乃是次子〉，又剪搭過左手來，按在瑪拿西的頭上〈瑪拿西原是長子〉。
15He blessed Joseph, and said, 'The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
15他就給約瑟祝福說：願我祖亞伯拉罕和我父以撒所事奉的神，就是一生牧養我直到今日的 神，
16The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.'
16救贖我脫離一切患難的那使者，賜福與這兩個童子。願他們歸在我的名下和我祖亞伯拉罕、我父以撒的名下。又願他們在世界中生養眾多。
17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
17約瑟見他父親把右手按在以法蓮的頭上，就不喜悅，便提起他父親的手，要從以法蓮的頭上挪到瑪拿西的頭上。
18Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.'
18約瑟對他父親說：我父，不是這樣。這本是長子，求你把右手按在他的頭上。
19But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.'
19他父親不從，說：我知道，我兒，我知道。他也必成為一族，也必昌大。只是他的兄弟將來比他還大；他兄弟的後裔要成為多族。
20He blessed them that day, saying, 'By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'' Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
20當日就給他們祝福說：以色列人要指著你們祝福說：願神使你如以法蓮、瑪拿西一樣。於是立以法蓮在瑪拿西以上。
21Then Israel said to Joseph, 'Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
21以色列又對約瑟說：我要死了，但神必與你們同在，領你們回到你們列祖之地。
22'I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.'
22並且我從前用弓用刀從亞摩利人手下奪的那塊地，我都賜給你，使你比眾弟兄多得一分。