12. Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.
13. And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right towards Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left towards Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him.
14. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
15. Then he blessed Joseph and said,‘May the God before whom my fathersAbraham and Isaac walked faithfully,the God who has been my shepherdall my life to this day,
16. the Angel who has delivered me from all harm– may he bless these boys.May they be called by my nameand the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,and may they increase greatlyon the earth.’
17. When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
18. Joseph said to him, ‘No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.’