Genesis 48
1 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.
これらの事の後に、「あなたの父は、いま病気です」とヨセフに告げる者があったので、彼はふたりの子、マナセとエフライムとを連れて行った。
2 And it was told to the old man, “Behold, your son Joseph is coming to you.” And being strengthened, he sat up in bed.
時に人がヤコブに告げて、「あなたの子ヨセフがあなたのもとにきました」と言ったので、イスラエルは努めて床の上にすわった。
3 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.
そしてヤコブはヨセフに言った、「先に全能の神がカナンの地ルズでわたしに現れ、わたしを祝福して、
4 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.’
言われた、『わたしはおまえに多くの子を得させ、おまえをふやし、おまえを多くの国民としよう。また、この地をおまえの後の子孫に与えて永久の所有とさせる』。
5 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.
エジプトにいるあなたの所にわたしが来る前に、エジプトの国で生れたあなたのふたりの子はいまわたしの子とします。すなわちエフライムとマナセとはルベンとシメオンと同じようにわたしの子とします。
6 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.
ただし彼らの後にあなたに生れた子らはあなたのものとなります。しかし、その嗣業はその兄弟の名で呼ばれるでしょう。
7 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.”
わたしがパダンから帰って来る途中ラケルはカナンの地で死に、わたしは悲しんだ。そこはエフラタに行くまでには、なお隔たりがあった。わたしはエフラタ、すなわちベツレヘムへ行く道のかたわらに彼女を葬った」。
8 Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”
ところで、イスラエルはヨセフの子らを見て言った、「これはだれですか」。
9 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.”
ヨセフは父に言った、「神がここでわたしにくださった子どもです」。父は言った、「彼らをわたしの所に連れてきて、わたしに祝福させてください」。
10 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.
イスラエルの目は老齢のゆえに、かすんで見えなかったが、ヨセフが彼らを父の所に近寄らせたので、父は彼らに口づけし、彼らを抱いた。
11 And he said to his son: “I have not been cheated out of seeing you. Moreover, God has shown me your offspring.”
そしてイスラエルはヨセフに言った、「あなたの顔が見られようとは思わなかったのに、神はあなたの子らをもわたしに見させてくださった」。
12 And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.
そこでヨセフは彼らをヤコブのひざの間から取り出し、地に伏して拝した。
13 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.
ヨセフはエフライムを右の手に取ってイスラエルの左の手に向かわせ、マナセを左の手に取ってイスラエルの右の手に向かわせ、ふたりを近寄らせた。
14 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.
すると、イスラエルは右の手を伸べて弟エフライムの頭に置き、左の手をマナセの頭に置いた。マナセは長子であるが、ことさらそのように手を置いたのである。
15 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;
そしてヨセフを祝福して言った、「わが先祖アブラハムとイサクの仕えた神、生れてからきょうまでわたしを養われた神、
16 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.”
すべての災からわたしをあがなわれたみ使よ、この子供たちを祝福してください。またわが名と先祖アブラハムとイサクの名とが、彼らによって唱えられますように、また彼らが地の上にふえひろがりますように」。
17 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.
ヨセフは父が右の手をエフライムの頭に置いているのを見て不満に思い、父の手を取ってエフライムの頭からマナセの頭へ移そうとした。
18 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.”
そしてヨセフは父に言った、「父よ、そうではありません。こちらが長子です。その頭に右の手を置いてください」。
19 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.”
父は拒んで言った、「わかっている。子よ、わたしにはわかっている。彼もまた一つの民となり、また大いなる者となるであろう。しかし弟は彼よりも大いなる者となり、その子孫は多くの国民となるであろう」。
20 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.
こうして彼はこの日、彼らを祝福して言った、「あなたを指して、イスラエルは、人を祝福して言うであろう、『神があなたをエフライムのごとく、またマナセのごとくにせられるように』」。このように、彼はエフライムをマナセの先に立てた。
21 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.
イスラエルはまたヨセフに言った、「わたしはやがて死にます。しかし、神はあなたがたと共におられて、あなたがたを先祖の国に導き返されるであろう。
22 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.”
なおわたしは一つの分を兄弟よりも多くあなたに与える。これはわたしがつるぎと弓とを持ってアモリびとの手から取ったものである」。
