創世記 48
1 這些事以後，有人告訴若瑟說：「你的父親病了。」若瑟遂帶了他的兩個兒子，默納協和厄弗辣因同去。
After these things were done, it was reported to Joseph that his father was sick. And taking his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, he went directly to him.
2 人告訴雅各伯說：「你兒子若瑟來看你。」以色列遂勉強由床上坐起。
And it was told to the old man, “Behold, your son Joseph is coming to you.” And being strengthened, he sat up in bed.
3 雅各伯對若瑟說：「全能者天主曾在客納罕地路次顯現給我，祝福了我，
And when he had entered to him, he said: “Almighty God appeared to me at Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me.
4 對我說：看! 我要使你繁殖增多，成為一大民族；我要將這地方賜給你未來的後裔，作為永久的產業。
And he said: ‘I will increase and multiply you, and I will make you influential among the people. And I will give this land to you, and to your offspring after you, as an everlasting possession.’
5 我未到埃及見你以前，你在埃及國所生的兩個兒子，由今起應歸於我；厄弗辣因和默納協屬我全如勒烏本和西默盎一樣。
Therefore, your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came here to you, will be mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be treated by me just like Reuben and Simeon.
6 在他們以後所生的子女，盡歸於你；不過在分產業時，他們應歸他們兄弟的名下。
But the remainder, whom you will conceive after them, will be yours, and they will be called by the name of their brothers among their possessions.
7 當我由帕丹回來時，在離厄弗辣大還有一段路程時，在路上你母親辣黑耳，就在我的悲痛中死在客納罕地，我就將她葬在去厄弗辣大，即白冷的路旁。」
As for me, when I came from Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the very journey, and it was springtime. And I entered Ephrath and buried her next to the way of Ephrath, which by another name is called Bethlehem.”
8 以色列看見若瑟的兒子，就問說：「他們是誰﹖」
Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”
9 若瑟回答父親說：「是天主在此地賜給我的兒子。」以色列說：「帶他們到我跟前來，我要祝福他們。」
He responded, “They are my sons, whom God gave to me as a gift in this place.” “Bring them to me,” he said, “so that I may bless them.”
10 以色列因年老眼目昏花，看不清楚；若瑟遂領他們到他跟前；他就口親他們，抱住他們。
For Israel’s eyes were clouded by reason of his great age, and he was unable to see clearly. And when they were placed up against him, he kissed and embraced them.
11 以色列對若瑟說：「連見你的面我都沒有料到；現今，看，天主還使我見到了你的後裔。」
And he said to his son: “I have not been cheated out of seeing you. Moreover, God has shown me your offspring.”
12 若瑟遂由他父親膝間將孩子拉出來，俯伏在地下拜。
And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.
13 然後若瑟又領他們兩個，右手領厄弗辣因到以色列左邊，左手領默納協到以色列右邊，到父親面前。
And he placed Ephraim on his right, that is, towards the left hand of Israel. Yet truly Manasseh was on his left, namely, towards his father’s right hand. And he placed them both up against him.
14 以色列卻伸出右手，放在次子厄弗辣因的頭上，伸出左手放在長子默納協的頭上，故意交叉著自己的手。
And he, extending his right hand, placed it over the head of Ephraim, the younger brother, but the left hand was on the head of Manasseh, who was the elder, so that his hands were crossed.
15 遂祝福若瑟說：「願我的祖先亞巴郎和依撒格一生與之往來的天主，自我出生直到今日牧育我的天主，
And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and he said: “God, in whose sight my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked; God, who pastured me from my youth until the present day;
16 救我脫離一切禍患的使者，祝福這兩個孩童! 願我的名及我祖先亞巴郎和依撒格的名，賴他們流傳! 願他們在地上生育繁昌! 」
the Angel, who rescues me from all evils: bless these boys. And let my name be invoked over them, and also the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac. And may they increase into a multitude across the earth.”
17 若瑟見他父親將右手放在厄弗辣因頭上，認為不對，便拿起父親的右手，由厄弗辣因頭上，移到默納協頭上，
But Joseph, seeing that his father had placed his right hand over the head of Ephraim, took it gravely. And grasping his father’s hand, he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head and transfer it onto the head of Manasseh.
18 對父親說：「阿爸! 錯了；這個原是長子，應將你的右手放在他頭上。」
And he said to his father: “It should not have come to pass this way, father. For this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand over his head.”
19 他的父親卻拒絕說：「我知道，我兒! 我知道，他也要成為一個民族，他也要昌盛；但他的弟弟卻比他更要昌盛，他的後裔要成為一大民族。」
But refusing, he said: “I know, my son, I know. And this one, indeed, will be among the people and will be multiplied. But his younger brother will be greater than he. And his offspring will increase among the nations.”
20 那一天他又這樣祝福他們說：「以色列將以你們祝福人說：願天主使你如厄弗辣因和默納協!」他又將厄弗辣因放在默納協前面。
And he blessed them at that time, saying: “In you, Israel will be blessed, and it will be said: ‘May God treat you like Ephraim, and like Manasseh.’” And he established Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 然後以色列對若瑟說：「看，我快要死；但天主必與你們同在，必領你們回到你們祖先的地方去。
And he said to his son Joseph: “See, I am dying, and God will be with you, and he will lead you back to the land of your fathers.
22 現在我將由阿摩黎人手中，以我的刀劍弓矢奪得的那塊山地賜給你，使你比眾兄弟多得一分。」
I give you one part beyond that of your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
