Genèse 48

1 II arriva, après ces faits, qu’on dit à Joseph: "Ton père est malade." Et il partit emmenant ses deux fils, Manassé et Éphraïm.

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 On l’annonça à Jacob, en disant: "Voici que ton fils Joseph vient te voir." Israël recueillit ses forces et s’assit sur le lit.

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 Et Jacob dit à Joseph: "Le Dieu tout-puissant m’est apparu à Louz, au pays de Canaan et m’a béni.

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 Il m’a dit: ‘Je veux te faire croître et fructifier et je te ferai devenir une multitude de peuples; et je donnerai ce pays à te postérité ultérieure, comme possession perpétuelle.'

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 Eh bien! Tes deux fils, qui te sont nés au pays d’Égypte avant que je vinsse auprès de toi en Égypte, deviennent les miens; non moins que Ruben et Siméon, Éphraïm et Manassé seront à moi.

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 Quant aux enfants que tu engendrerais après eux, ils te seront attribués: ils s’appelleront du nom de leurs frères, à l’égard de leur héritage.

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 Pour moi, quand je revins du territoire d’Aram, Rachel mourut dans mes bras au pays de Canaan pendant le voyage, lorsqu’une kibra de pays me séparait encore d’Éphrath; je l’inhumai là, sur le chemin d’Éphrath, qui est Bethléem."

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 Israël remarqua les enfants de Joseph et il dit: "Qui sont ceux-là?"

Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”

9 Joseph répondit à son père: "Ce sont mes fils, que Dieu m’a donnés dans ce pays." Jacob reprit: "Approche-les de moi, je te prie, que je les bénisse."

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 Or, les yeux d’Israël, appesantis par la vieillesse, ne pouvaient plus bien voir. Il fit approcher de lui ces jeunes gens, leur donna des baisers, les pressa dans ses bras;

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 et Israël dit à Joseph: "Je ne comptais pas revoir ton visage et voici que Dieu m’a fait voir jusqu’à ta postérité".

And he said to his son: “I have not been cheated out of seeing you. Moreover, God has shown me your offspring.”

12 Joseph les retira d’entre ses genoux et se prosterna devant lui jusqu’à terre.

And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.

13 Puis Joseph les prit tous deux, Éphraïm de la main droite, à gauche d’Israël et Manassé de la main gauche, à droite d’Israël; et il les fit avancer vers lui.

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 Israël étendit la main droite, l’imposa sur la tête d’Éphraïm, qui était le plus jeune et mit sa main gauche sur la tête de Manassé; il croisa ses mains, quoique Manassé fut l’aîné.

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 Il bénit Joseph, puis dit: "Que la Divinité dont mes pères, Abraham et Isaac, ont suivi les voies; que la Divinité qui a veillé sur moi depuis ma naissance jusqu’à ce jour;

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 que l’ange qui m’a délivré de tout mal, bénisse ces jeunes gens! Puisse-t-il perpétuer mon nom et le nom de mes pères Abraham et Isaac! Puisse-t-il multiplier à l’infini au milieu de la contrée."

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 Joseph remarqua que son père posait sa main droite sur la tête d’Éphraïm et cela lui déplut; il souleva la main de son père pour la faire passer de la tête d’Éphraïm sur la tête de Manassé

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 et il dit à son père: "Pas ainsi, mon père! Puisque celui-ci est l’aîné, mets ta main droite sur sa tête."

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 Son père s’y refusa et dit: "Je le sais, mon fils, je le sais; lui aussi deviendra un peuple et lui aussi sera grand: mais son jeune frère sera plus grand que lui et sa postérité formera plusieurs nations."

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 Il les bénit alors et il dit: "Israël te nommera dans ses bénédictions, en disant: Dieu te fasse devenir comme Éphraïm et Manassé!" II plaça ainsi Éphraïm avant Manassé.

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 Israël dit à Joseph: "Voici, je vais mourir. Dieu sera avec vous et il vous ramènera au pays de vos aïeux.

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 Or, je te promets une portion supérieure à celle de tes frères, portion conquise sur l’Amorréen, à l’aide de mon épée et de mon arc."

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.”