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約瑟為法老解夢

41 過了兩年,法老做夢,看哪,自己站在尼羅河邊, 看哪,有七頭母牛從尼羅河裏上來,長相俊美,肌肉肥壯,在蘆葦中吃草。 看哪,隨後又有七頭母牛從尼羅河裏上來,長相醜陋,肌肉乾瘦,與那七頭母牛一同站在河邊。 這長相醜陋,肌肉乾瘦的七頭母牛吃了那長相俊美又肥壯的七頭母牛。法老就醒了。 他又睡着,第二次做夢,看哪,一株麥桿長了七個穗子,又肥大又佳美, 看哪,隨後又長出七個穗子,又細弱又被東風吹焦了。 這細弱的穗子吞了那七個又肥大又飽滿的穗子。法老醒了,看哪,是個夢。 到了早晨,法老心裏不安,就派人把埃及所有的術士和智慧人都召來。法老把所做的夢告訴他們,但是沒有人能為法老解夢。

那時司酒長對法老說:「我今日想起我的罪來。 10 從前法老對臣僕發怒,把我和司膳長關在護衛長府內的監牢裏。 11 我們兩人在同一晚上各做一夢,每個夢都有各自的解釋。 12 同我們在一起有一個希伯來的年輕人,是護衛長的僕人。我們告訴他,他就為我們解夢,照着各人的夢講解。 13 後來事情正如他給我們講解的實現了,我官復原職,司膳長被掛起來了。」

14 於是法老派人去召約瑟,他們就急忙把他從牢裏提出來。他就剃頭刮臉,換衣服,進到法老面前。 15 法老對約瑟說:「我做了一個夢,沒有人能講解。我聽人說,你聽了夢就能講解。」 16 約瑟回答法老說:「這不在乎我。 神必應允法老平安。」 17 法老對約瑟說:「在我的夢中,看哪,我站在尼羅河邊, 18 看哪,有七頭母牛從尼羅河裏上來,肌肉肥壯,外形俊美,在蘆葦中吃草。 19 看哪,隨後又有七頭母牛上來,虛弱,外形很醜陋,肌肉又乾瘦,在埃及全地,我沒有見過這樣醜陋的牛。 20 這乾瘦又醜陋的母牛吃了那先前的七頭肥母牛, 21 進了肚子以後卻看不出已經進了肚子,那醜陋的長相仍舊和先前一樣。我就醒了。 22 我又在夢中觀看,看哪,一株麥桿長了七個穗子,又飽滿又佳美, 23 看哪,隨後又長出七個穗子,枯槁,細弱,又被東風吹焦了。 24 這些細弱的穗子吞了那七個佳美的穗子。我告訴術士,卻沒有人能為我講解。」

25 約瑟對法老說:「法老的夢是同一個。 神已把要做的事指示法老了。 26 七頭好母牛是七年,七個佳美的穗子也是七年,這是同一個夢。 27 那隨後上來的七頭乾瘦又醜陋的母牛是七年;那七個空心,被東風吹焦的穗子也一樣,都是七個荒年。 28 這就是我對法老所說, 神已把要做的事顯明給法老了。 29 看哪,必有七個大豐年來到埃及全地, 30 隨後又有七個荒年,甚至埃及地的人都忘了先前的豐收,這地必被饑荒所滅。 31 因為那後來的饑荒非常嚴重,就不覺得這地先前有豐收。 32 至於法老兩次做夢,是因為 神已經確定這事, 神必速速成就。 33 現在,請法老選一個聰明又有智慧的人,委派他治理埃及地。 34 請法老這樣做,委派官員治理這地,在七個豐年的期間,徵收埃及地出產的五分之一, 35 叫他們聚集未來豐年一切的糧食,積存五穀歸在法老的手下作糧食,儲藏在各城裏。 36 這糧食可以為這地作儲備,為了埃及地要來的七個荒年,免得這地被饑荒所滅。」

約瑟被立為埃及的宰相

37 這事在法老和他眾臣僕眼中都覺得好。 38 法老對臣僕說:「像這樣的人,有 神的靈在他裏面,我們豈能找得着呢?」 39 法老對約瑟說:「 神既指示你這一切事,就沒有人像你這樣聰明又有智慧。 40 你可以治理我的家;我的百姓都必服從你口中的命令。惟獨在寶座上,我比你大。」 41 法老又對約瑟說:「看,我委派你治理埃及全地。」 42 法老就脫下手上帶印的戒指,戴在約瑟的手上,給他穿上細麻衣,把金鏈戴在他的頸項上, 43 又給約瑟坐他的副座車,在他前面有人呼叫說:「跪下[a]。」於是,法老委派他治理埃及全地。 44 法老對約瑟說:「我是法老,若沒有你的命令,埃及全地的人都不可擅自辦事[b]。」 45 法老給約瑟起名叫撒發那特‧巴內亞,又將安城的祭司波提‧非拉的女兒亞西納給他為妻。約瑟就出去治理埃及地。

46 約瑟埃及王法老面前侍立的時候年三十歲。約瑟從法老面前出去,巡行埃及全地。 47 七個豐年之內,地的出產極其豐盛[c] 48 約瑟聚集埃及地七年一切的糧食,把糧食積存在各城裏,就是把各城周圍田地的糧食都積存在該城裏。 49 約瑟積存的五穀很多,如同海邊的沙,無法計算,數也數不清。

50 荒年未到以前,安城的祭司波提‧非拉的女兒亞西納約瑟生了兩個兒子。 51 約瑟給長子起名叫瑪拿西[d],因為他說:「 神使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。」 52 他給次子起名叫以法蓮[e],因為他說:「 神使我在受苦的地方興盛。」

53 埃及地的七個豐年一過, 54 七個荒年就來了,正如約瑟所說的。各地都有饑荒,惟獨埃及全地有糧食。 55 等到埃及全地也有了饑荒,眾百姓就向法老哀求糧食。法老對所有的埃及人說:「你們到約瑟那裏去,凡他所說的,你們都要做。」 56 當時饑荒遍滿了全地,約瑟就開了各處的糧倉[f],賣糧食給埃及人。埃及地的饑荒非常嚴重。 57 各地的人都去埃及,到約瑟那裏買糧食,因為全地的饑荒非常嚴重。

Footnotes

  1. 41.43 「跪下」或譯「讓開」。
  2. 41.44 「擅自辦事」:原文是「動手動腳」。
  3. 41.47 「極其豐盛」:原文是「一把一把的」。
  4. 41.51 「瑪拿西」意思是「使忘記」。
  5. 41.52 「以法蓮」意思是「興盛」。
  6. 41.56 「各處的糧倉」是根據七十士譯本和其他古譯本;原文是「所有在它們裏面的」。

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(A) He was standing by the Nile,(B) when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(C) and they grazed among the reeds.(D) After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(E)

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(F) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(G) The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(H) it had been a dream.

In the morning his mind was troubled,(I) so he sent for all the magicians(J) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(K)

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(L) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(M) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(N) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(O) 12 Now a young Hebrew(P) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(Q) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(R) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(S)

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(T) When he had shaved(U) and changed his clothes,(V) he came before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(W) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(X)

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(Y)

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(Z) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(AA) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(AB)

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(AC) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(AD) 26 The seven good cows(AE) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(AF)

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(AG) 29 Seven years of great abundance(AH) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(AI) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(AJ) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(AK) by God, and God will do it soon.(AL)

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(AM) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(AN) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(AO) over the land to take a fifth(AP) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(AQ) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(AR) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(AS) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(AT) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(AU)

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(AV) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(AW) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(AX) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(AY) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(AZ)

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”(BA) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring(BB) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes(BC) of fine linen(BD) and put a gold chain around his neck.(BE) 43 He had him ride in a chariot(BF) as his second-in-command,[b](BG) and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!”(BH) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.(BI)

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”(BJ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph(BK) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest(BL) of On,[d](BM) to be his wife.(BN) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

46 Joseph was thirty years old(BO) when he entered the service(BP) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance(BQ) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.(BR) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;(BS) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.(BT) 51 Joseph named his firstborn(BU) Manasseh[e](BV) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim[f](BW) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful(BX) in the land of my suffering.”

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine(BY) began,(BZ) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine,(CA) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”(CB)

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,(CC) for the famine(CD) was severe throughout Egypt.(CE) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,(CF) because the famine was severe everywhere.(CG)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
  2. Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
  3. Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
  4. Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
  5. Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
  6. Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.

41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.

And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:

11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

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

22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.

25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

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

38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.

48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.

49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.

57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.