10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see.i So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed themj and embraced them.k

11 Israell said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again,m and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”n

12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s kneeso and bowed down with his face to the ground.p 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand,q and brought them close to him. 14 But Israelr reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,s though he was the younger,t and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.u

15 Then he blessedv Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers

Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,w

the God who has been my shepherdx

all my life to this day,

16 the Angely who has delivered me from all harmz

—may he blessa these boys.b

May they be called by my name

and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,c

and may they increase greatly

on the earth.”d

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hande on Ephraim’s headf he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”g

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.h Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,i and his descendants will become a group of nations.j” 20 He blessedk them that dayl and said,

“In yourc name will Israelm pronounce this blessing:n

‘May God make you like Ephraimo and Manasseh.p’ ”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.