约瑟为法老解梦

41 两年后,法老做了个梦,梦见自己站在尼罗河边, 有七头肥美、健壮的母牛从河里上来,在芦苇丛中吃草。 随后又有七头丑陋、瘦弱的母牛从河里上来,与那七头母牛一同站在河边。 后来,七头丑陋、瘦弱的母牛吃掉了七头肥美、健壮的母牛。这时,法老醒了过来。

之后,他又睡着了,又做了个梦。他梦见一株麦子上长了七个饱满的穗子。 后来这株麦子上面又长了七个干瘪的穗子,它们被东风吹干了。 七个干瘪的穗子吞食了七个饱满的穗子。法老醒过来,原来是一场梦。

早上法老心中不安,就派人召来埃及所有的术士和博学之士,把梦告诉他们,可是没有一个人能为他解梦。

后来,侍酒总管对法老说:“我今天才想起我的罪过。 10 我从前和膳食总管惹王生气,被王囚禁在护卫长府内的牢里。 11 一天晚上,我俩都做了梦。 12 当时有一个希伯来青年跟我们一起被囚在牢里,他是护卫长的仆人。我们把梦告诉他,他就分别为我们解梦。 13 后来,他为我们解的梦都应验了,我恢复了原职,膳食总管被挂在木头上处死了。”

14 于是,法老派人去召约瑟,他们急忙释放约瑟。约瑟剃头刮脸,更换衣服,去见法老。 15 法老对约瑟说:“我做了一个梦,没有人能为我解梦。我听说你能解梦。” 16 约瑟回答说:“我自己不会解梦,但上帝却能给王圆满的解释。”

17 法老对约瑟说:“我梦见自己站在尼罗河边, 18 有七头肥美、健壮的母牛从河里上来,在芦苇丛中吃草。 19 随后又有七头丑陋、瘦弱的母牛从河里上来,我在埃及从来没有见过有这么丑陋的牛。 20 这些丑陋、瘦弱的母牛吃掉先前的七头肥母牛。 21 可是,它们吃了以后却仍然像以前那么丑陋。这时,我就醒了。 22 后来我又梦见一株麦子,上面长了七个饱满的穗子, 23 接着又长出七个干瘪的穗子, 24 这些干瘪的穗子吞了那七个饱满的穗子。我把梦告诉了术士,却没有人能为我解梦。”

25 约瑟对法老说:“王的梦都是同一个意思,上帝已经借着梦把祂将要做的事指示王了。 26 七头肥美的母牛和七个饱满的穗子都代表七年,是同样的意思。 27 七头瘦弱、丑陋的母牛和七个干瘪、被东风吹干的穗子也代表七年,是七年饥荒。 28 正如我刚才说的,上帝已经把祂将要做的事向王显明了。 29 埃及全境很快会有七年大丰收, 30 随后是七年饥荒肆虐全国,之前的丰收将被忘记。 31 饥荒将非常严重,之前的丰收将荡然无存。 32 王的梦出现了两次,表示上帝的心意已定,上帝必很快成就这事。 33 王应该选一个精明的人,派他治理埃及。 34 王也应该在各地委派官员,在七年丰收期内征收全国出产的五分之一, 35 把在丰年收集的粮食储存在各城,归王管理。 36 这些粮食要留到七年饥荒时用,免得这片土地被饥荒毁灭。”

约瑟做埃及宰相

37 法老和他所有的臣仆都赞同约瑟的建议。 38 法老对臣仆说:“我们哪里找像这样有上帝的灵同在的人呢?” 39 法老对约瑟说:“上帝既然把梦的意思指示给你,可见没人有你这样的见识和智慧。 40 我要派你管理我家,我的人民都要遵从你的命令,只有我权力比你大。” 41 法老又说:“我现在派你治理埃及全国。” 42 于是,法老摘下手上用来盖印的戒指,戴在约瑟的手上,给他穿上细麻袍,把金链戴在他颈上, 43 让他坐在自己的第二辆御车上,并有人在御车前高呼:“跪下!”这样,法老派约瑟治理整个埃及。 44 法老对约瑟说:“我是法老,但没有你的命令,埃及的任何人都不得擅自行事。” 45 法老赐给约瑟一个名字叫撒发那忒·巴内亚,又把安城祭司波提非拉的女儿亚西纳赐给他为妻。约瑟巡视了整个埃及。

46 约瑟三十岁开始为法老效劳,他离开法老去巡视埃及各地。 47 七个丰年之内,埃及粮食大丰收, 48 约瑟收集七个丰年出产的所有粮食,储藏进各城,每一座城附近出产的粮食都存放在本城。 49 约瑟积存了大量五谷,多如海沙,不可胜数。

50 荒年到来前,安城祭司波提非拉的女儿亚西纳给约瑟生了两个儿子。 51 约瑟给长子取名叫玛拿西,因为他说:“上帝使我忘记一切的困苦和我父亲家。” 52 约瑟给次子取名叫以法莲,因为他说:“上帝使我在受苦之地昌盛。”

53 七个丰年结束后, 54 七个荒年接踵而至,正如约瑟所言。各地都有饥荒,只有埃及全国有粮食。 55 后来,埃及全国也闹饥荒,百姓就向法老求粮,法老对他们说:“你们去找约瑟吧,要照他的吩咐做。”

56 饥荒蔓延到整个埃及时,约瑟便开仓卖粮给埃及人。那时,埃及的饥荒非常严重。 57 各国的人都到埃及来向约瑟买粮,因为天下到处都是大饥荒。

[MIKETZ]

41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed a chalom: and, hinei, he stood by haye’or (the River, i.e., the Nile).

And, hinei, there came up out of haye’or (the River, i.e., the Nile) seven cows, fine in appearance and fat in basar; and they grazed on the riverbank.

And, hinei, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, ra’ot mareh (ugly in appearance) and dakot basar (gaunt ones in flesh, lean-fleshed); and stood by the other cows upon the bank of the Nile.

And the cows that were ra’ot hamareh and that were dakot habasar did devour the seven cows that were fine in appearance and fat. Then Pharaoh awoke.

And he slept and dreamed a chalom the second time; and, hinei, shivah heads of grain came up upon one stalk, beri’ot (fat ones) and tovot.

And, hinei, seven thin heads of grain scorched by the east wind tzomechot (sprung up) after them.

And the seven thin heads of grain devoured the seven fat and mele’ot (full) heads of grain. And Pharaoh awoke; and, hinei, it was a chalom!

And it came to pass in the boker that his ruach was troubled; and he sent and called for all the chartummei Mitzrayim (magicians of Egypt), and all the chachamim thereof; and Pharaoh told them his chalom; but there was no poter (interpreter) for Pharaoh.

Then the sar hamashkim spoke unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day.

10 Pharaoh was in wrath with his avadim, and put me b’mishmar (in custody) in the bais sar hatabbachim, both me and the sar ha’ofim;

11 And we dreamed a chalom in the same lailah, I and he; and each chalom we dreamed had its own pitron (interpretation).

12 And there was there with us a na’ar Ivri, eved to the sar hatabbachim; and we told him, and he interpreted to us chalomoteinu (our dreams); to each according to his chalom he did interpret.

13 And it was, just as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass; me he restored unto mine ken (post), and him he hanged.

14 Then Pharaoh sent and summoned Yosef, and they brought him hastily out of the bor (dungeon); and he shaved, and changed his clothes, and came in unto Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, I have dreamed a chalom, and there is no poter (interpreter) for it; and I have heard it said of thee, that thou canst understand a chalom to interpret it.

16 And Yosef answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me; Elohim shall give Pharaoh an answer of shalom.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, In my chalom, hineni, I stood upon the bank of the Nile;

18 And, hinei, there came up out of the Nile seven cows beri’ot basar (fat in body) and sleek of form; and they grazed by the riverbank.

19 And, hinei, seven other cows came up after them, dalot (poor, scrawny, thin) and ra’ot to’ar me’od (very ugly in appearance) and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in kol Eretz Mitzrayim, unacceptably bad;

20 And the lean and the ra’ot cows did eat up the first seven fat cows;

21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still rah in appearance, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

22 And I saw in my chalom, and, hinei, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, mele’ot (full) and tovot (good);

23 And, hinei, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and scorched with the east wind, tzomechot (sprung up) after them;

24 And the thin heads of grain devoured the seven tov heads of grain; and I told this unto the chartummi (magicians); but there was none that could explain it to me.

25 And Yosef said unto Pharaoh, The chalom of Pharaoh is echad: HaElohim hath revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

26 The seven good cows are seven shanim; and the seven good heads of grain are seven shanim. The chalom is echad.

27 And the seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are sheva shanim; and the seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind are sheva shnei ra’av (seven years of famine).

28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh; What HaElohim is about to do He showeth unto Pharaoh.

29 Hinei, there come sheva shanim of sava gadol (great fullness, plenty, abundance) throughout kol Eretz Mitzrayim.

30 And there shall arise after them sheva shnei ra’av (seven years of famine) and kol hasava (all abundance) shall be forgotten in Eretz Mitzrayim; and the ra’av (famine) shall consume the land;

31 And the sava shall not be known in the land by reason of that ra’av (famine) following; for it shall be kaved me’od (very grievous).

32 And for that the chalom was doubled unto Pharaoh; it is because the thing is [decidedly] established by HaElohim, and HaElohim will shortly bring it to pass.

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select an ish navon and chochom (a man discerning and wise) and set him over Eretz Mitzrayim.

34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint pekidim (officers, overseers, commissioners) over the land, and take up the fifth part [of the harvest] of Eretz Mitzrayim in the sheva shnei hasava.

35 And let them gather kol ochel of those shanim hatovot that come, and store up grain under the yad Pharaoh, and let them be shomer over ochel in the cities.

36 And that ochel shall be for reserves for the land against the sheva shnei hara’av, which shall be in Eretz Mitzrayim; that the land perish not through the ra’av.

37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his avadim.

38 And Pharaoh said unto his avadim, Can we find such an ish as this is, an ish in whom is the Ruach Elohim?

39 And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, Forasmuch as Elohim hath showed thee all this, there is none so navon (discerning) and chochom (wise) as thou art;

40 Thou shalt be over my bais (palace), and according unto thy mouth shall all my people order themselves; only with respect to the kisse will I be greater than thou.

41 And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, See, I have set thee over kol Eretz Mitzrayim.

42 And Pharaoh took off his taba’at (signet ring) from his yad, and put it upon yad Yosef, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a chain of zahav around his neck;

43 And he made him to ride in the second merkavah which he had; and they cried before him, Avrech! And he put him over kol Eretz Mitzrayim.

44 And Pharaoh said unto Yosef, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his yad or regel in kol Eretz Mitzrayim.

45 And Pharaoh called shem Yosef Zaphnat Pa’neach; and he gave him as isha Asenat Bat Poti Phera kohen of On. And Yosef went out over all Eretz Mitzrayim.

46 And Yosef was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh Melech Mitzrayim. And Yosef went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout kol Eretz Mitzrayim.

47 And in the sheva shnei hasava the land brought forth by handfuls.

48 And he gathered up kol ochel of the sheva shanim, which were in Eretz Mitzrayim, and laid up the ochel in the cities; the ochel of the sadeh, which surrounded every city, laid he up in the same.

49 And Yosef gathered grain as the chol (sand) of the yam, very much, until he stopped counting; for it was without mispar (number).

50 And unto Yosef were born two banim before the shnat ra’av came, which Asenat Bat Poti Phera kohen of On bore unto him.

51 And Yosef called the shem of the bechor Menasheh: For Elohim, said he nashani, (hath made me forget) all my amal, and kol bais Avi.

52 And the shem of the second called he Ephrayim: For Elohim hifrani (hath caused me to be fruitful) in the eretz of my oni (suffering).

53 And the sheva shnei hasava that was in Eretz Mitzrayim were ended.

54 And the sheva shnei hara’av began to come, just as Yosef had said; and the ra’av was in all lands; but in kol Eretz Mitzrayim there was lechem.

55 And when kol Eretz Mitzrayim was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for lechem; and Pharaoh said unto kol Mitzrayim, Go unto Yosef; what he saith to you, do.

56 And the ra’av (famine) was over kol pnei ha’aretz; and Yosef opened all that was in them, and sold unto the Mitzrayim; and the ra’av (famine) became severe in Eretz Mitzrayim.

57 And kol HaAretz (all the world) came into Mitzrayim to Yosef to buy grain; because that the ra’av (famine) was so chazak in kol HaAretz.