Study Desk

When Israel ⁽ⁱ⁾saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?"

Joseph said to his father, "^(j)They are my sons, whom God has given me here." So he said, "Bring them to me, please, that ^(k)I may bless them."

Now ^(l)the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then ^[j]Joseph brought them close to him, and he ^(m)kissed them and embraced them.

Israel said to Joseph, "I never ^[k]expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your ^[l]children as well."

Then Joseph ^[m]took them from his knees, and ⁽ⁿ⁾bowed with his face to the ground.

Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them close to him.

But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, ^[n]crossing his hands, ^[o]although ^(o)Manasseh was the firstborn.

He blessed Joseph, and said, "^(p)The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, ^(q)The God who has been my shepherd ^[p]all my life to this day,

^(r)The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, ^(s)Bless the lads; And may my name ^[q]live on in them, And the ^[r]names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And ^(t)may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."