13 Joseph now took the two of them, Eʹphra·im+ with his right hand to Israel’s left and Ma·nasʹseh+ with his left hand to Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14 However, Israel put out his right hand and placed it on Eʹphra·im’s head, although he was the younger, and he placed his left hand on Ma·nasʹseh’s head. He purposely laid his hands this way, since Ma·nasʹseh was the firstborn.+ 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said:+
“The true God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,+
The true God who has been shepherding me during all my life until this day,+
16 The angel who has been recovering me from all calamity,+ bless the boys.+
Let my name be called upon them and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac,
Let them increase to a multitude in the earth.”+
17 When Joseph saw that his father kept his right hand placed on Eʹphra·im’s head, it was displeasing to him, so he tried to take hold of his father’s hand to move it from Eʹphra·im’s head to Ma·nasʹseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father: “Not so, my father, because this is the firstborn.+ Put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father kept refusing and said: “I know it, my son, I know it. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will become greater than he will,+ and his offspring will become the full equivalent of nations.”+ 20 So he continued to bless them on that day,+ saying:
“Let Israel mention you when they pronounce blessings, saying,
‘May God make you like Eʹphra·im and like Ma·nasʹseh.’”
Thus he kept putting Eʹphra·im before Ma·nasʹseh.