9. And 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.”
10. Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
11. Israel said to Joseph, “I never thought I would see your face, but here God has also shown me your children.”
12. So Joseph took them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the ground.
13. Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.
14. 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, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
15. He blessed Joseph and said, “God, before whom my fathersAbraham and Isaac walked,the God who fed meall my life long to this day,
16. the angel who redeemed me from all evil,bless the boys;let them be called by my name,and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac;and let them grow into a multitudein the midst of the earth.”
17. When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18. Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
19. His father refused and said, “I know it, my son, I know it. He will also become a people, and he will also be great, but truly his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.”