Genesis:48

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* Now 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 . * And Jacob was told , "Look , your son Joseph is coming to you "; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed . * Then Jacob said to Joseph : "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me , * and 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 .' * And 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 . * Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours ; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance . * But 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 )." * Then Israel saw Joseph 's sons , and said , "Who are these ?" * Joseph 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 ." * Now 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 . * And Israel said to Joseph , "I had not thought to see your face ; but in fact , God has also shown me your offspring !" * So Joseph brought them from beside his knees , and he bowed down with his face to the earth . * And 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 . * Then 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 . * And 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 , * The 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 ." * Now 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 . * And Joseph said to his father , "Not so , my father , for this one is the firstborn ; put your right hand on his head ." * But 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 ." * So 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 . * Then Israel said to Joseph , "Behold , I am dying , but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers . * Moreover 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 ."

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