New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 After this Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
1
Some time after this conversation, Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to Jacob.
2 When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," he summoned his strength and sat up in bed.
2
When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come," he roused himself and sat up in bed.
3 And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me,
3
Jacob said to Joseph, "The Strong God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.
4 and said to me, "I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers; I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for a perpetual holding.'
4
He said, 'I'm going to make you prosperous and numerous, turn you into a congregation of tribes; and I'll turn this land over to your children coming after you as a permanent inheritance.'
5 Therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are now mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.
5
I'm adopting your two sons who were born to you here in Egypt before I joined you; they have equal status with Reuben and Simeon.
6 As for the offspring born to you after them, they shall be yours. They shall be recorded under the names of their brothers with regard to their inheritance.
6
But any children born after them are yours; they will come after their brothers in matters of inheritance.
7 For when I came from Paddan, Rachel, alas, died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).
7
I want it this way because, as I was returning from Paddan, your mother Rachel, to my deep sorrow, died as we were on our way through Canaan when we were only a short distance from Ephrath, now called Bethlehem."
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?"
8
Just then Jacob noticed Joseph's sons and said, "Who are these?"
9 Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." And he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them."
9
Joseph told his father, "They are my sons whom God gave to me in this place."
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, and he could not see well. So Joseph brought them near him; and he kissed them and embraced them.
10
Israel's eyesight was poor from old age; he was nearly blind. So Joseph brought them up close. Old Israel kissed and embraced them
11 Israel said to Joseph, "I did not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children also."
11
and then said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has let me see your children as well!"
12 Then Joseph removed them from his father's knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
12
Joseph took them from Israel's knees and bowed respectfully, his face to the ground.
13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them near him.
13
Then Joseph took the two boys, Ephraim with his right hand setting him to Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand setting him to Israel's right, and stood them before him.
14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
14
But Israel crossed his arms and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim who was the younger and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn.
15 He blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
15
Then he blessed them: The God before whom walked my fathers Abraham and Isaac, The God who has been my shepherd all my lifelong to this very day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth."
16
The Angel who delivered me from every evil, Bless the boys. May my name be echoed in their lives, and the names of Abraham and Isaac, my fathers, And may they grow covering the Earth with their children.
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.
17
When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, he thought he had made a mistake, so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's,
18 Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
18
saying, "That's the wrong head, Father; the other one is the firstborn; place your right hand on his head."
19 But his father refused, and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."
19
But his father wouldn't do it. He said, "I know, my son; but I know what I'm doing. He also will develop into a people, and he also will be great. But his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will enrich nations."
20 So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will invoke blessings, saying, "God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.' " So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
20
Then he blessed them both: Israel will use your names to give blessings: May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. In that he made it explicit: he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors.
21
Israel then said to Joseph, "I'm about to die. God be with you and give you safe passage back to the land of your fathers.
22 I now give to you one portion more than to your brothers, the portion that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."
22
As for me, I'm presenting you, as the first among your brothers, the ridge of land I took from Amorites with my sword and bow."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.