Genesis 48
1 His itaque transactis, nunciatum est Ioseph quod aegrotaret pater suus: qui, assumptis duobus filiis Manasse et Ephraim, ire perrexit.
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 Dictumque est seni: Ecce filius tuus Ioseph venit ad te. Qui confortatus sedit in lectulo.
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 ingresso ad se Ioseph ait: Deus omnipotens apparuit mihi in Luza, quae est in Terra Chanaan: benedixitque mihi,
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 et ait: Ego te augebo et multiplicabo, et faciam te in turbas populorum: daboque tibi terram hanc, et semini tuo post te in possessionem sempiternam.
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 Duo ergo filii tui, qui nati sunt tibi in Terra Aegypti, antequam huc venirem ad te, mei erunt: Ephraim et Manasses, sicut Ruben et Simeon reputabuntur mihi.
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 Reliquos autem quos genueris post eos, tui erunt, et nomine fratrum suorum vocabuntur in possessionibus suis.
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 Mihi enim, quando veniebam de Mesopotamia, mortua est Rachel in terra Chanaan in ipso itinere, eratque vernum tempus: et ingrediebar Ephratam, et sepelivi eam iuxta viam Ephratae, quae alio nomine appellatur Bethlehem.
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 Videns autem filios eius dixit ad eum: Qui sunt isti?
Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”
9 Respondit: Filii mei sunt, quos donavit mihi Deus in hoc loco. Adduc, inquit, eos ad me, ut benedicam illis.
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 Oculi enim Israel caligabant prae nimia senectute, et clare videre non poterat. Applicitosque ad se, deosculatus et circumplexus eos,
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 dixit ad filium suum: Non sum fraudatus aspectu tuo: insuper ostendit mihi Deus semen tuum.
And he said to his son: “I have not been cheated out of seeing you. Moreover, God has shown me your offspring.”
12 Cumque tulisset eos Ioseph de gremio patris, adoravit pronus in terram.
And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.
13 Et posuit Ephraim ad dexteram suam, id est, ad sinistram Israel: Manassen vero in sinistra sua, ad dexteram scilicet patris, applicuitque ambos ad eum.
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 Qui extendens manum dexteram, posuit super caput Ephraim minoris fratris: sinistram autem super caput Manasse qui maior natu erat, commutans manus.
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 Benedixitque Iacob filiis Ioseph, et ait: Deus, in cuius conspectu ambulaverunt patres mei Abraham, et Isaac, Deus qui pascit me ab adolescentia mea usque in praesentem diem:
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 Angelus, qui eruit me de cunctis malis, benedicat pueris istis: et invocetur super eos nomen meum, nomina quoque patrum meorum Abraham, et Isaac, et crescant in multitudinem super terram.
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 Videns autem Ioseph quod posuisset pater suus dexteram manum super caput Ephraim, graviter accepit: et apprehensam manum patris levare conatus est de capite Ephraim, et transferre super caput Manasse.
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 Dixitque ad patrem: Non ita convenit, pater: quia hic est primogenitus, pone dexteram tuam super caput eius.
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 Qui renuens, ait: Scio fili mi, scio: et iste quidem erit in populos, et multiplicabitur: sed frater eius minor, maior erit illo: et semen illius crescet in gentes.
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 Benedixitque eis in tempore illo, dicens: In te benedicetur Israel, atque dicetur: Faciat tibi Deus sicut Ephraim, et sicut Manasse. Constituitque Ephraim ante Manassen.
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 Et ait ad Ioseph filium suum: En ego morior, et erit Deus vobiscum, reducetque vos ad terram patrum vestrorum.
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 Do tibi partem unam extra fratres tuos, quam tuli de manu Amorrhaei in gladio et arcu meo.
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.”
