創世記 41
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
約瑟為法老解夢
41 兩年後，法老做了個夢，夢見自己站在尼羅河邊， 2 有七頭肥美、健壯的母牛從河裡上來，在蘆葦叢中吃草。 3 隨後又有七頭醜陋、瘦弱的母牛從河裡上來，與那七頭母牛一同站在河邊。 4 後來，七頭醜陋、瘦弱的母牛吃掉了七頭肥美、健壯的母牛。這時，法老醒了過來。
5 之後，他又睡著了，又做了個夢。他夢見一株麥子上長了七個飽滿的穗子。 6 後來這株麥子上面又長了七個乾癟的穗子，它們被東風吹乾了。 7 七個乾癟的穗子吞食了七個飽滿的穗子。法老醒過來，原來是一場夢。
8 早上法老心中不安，就派人召來埃及所有的術士和博學之士，把夢告訴他們，可是沒有一個人能為他解夢。
9 後來，侍酒總管對法老說：「我今天才想起我的罪過。 10 我從前和膳食總管惹王生氣，被王囚禁在護衛長府內的牢裡。 11 一天晚上，我倆都做了夢。 12 當時有一個希伯來青年跟我們一起被囚在牢裡，他是護衛長的僕人。我們把夢告訴他，他就分別為我們解夢。 13 後來，他為我們解的夢都應驗了，我恢復了原職，膳食總管被掛在木頭上處死了。」
14 於是，法老派人去召約瑟，他們急忙釋放約瑟。約瑟剃頭刮臉，更換衣服，去見法老。 15 法老對約瑟說：「我做了一個夢，沒有人能為我解夢。我聽說你能解夢。」 16 約瑟回答說：「我自己不會解夢，但上帝卻能給王圓滿的解釋。」
17 法老對約瑟說：「我夢見自己站在尼羅河邊， 18 有七頭肥美、健壯的母牛從河裡上來，在蘆葦叢中吃草。 19 隨後又有七頭醜陋、瘦弱的母牛從河裡上來，我在埃及從來沒有見過有這麼醜陋的牛。 20 這些醜陋、瘦弱的母牛吃掉先前的七頭肥母牛。 21 可是，牠們吃了以後卻仍然像以前那麼醜陋。這時，我就醒了。 22 後來我又夢見一株麥子，上面長了七個飽滿的穗子， 23 接著又長出七個乾癟的穗子， 24 這些乾癟的穗子吞了那七個飽滿的穗子。我把夢告訴了術士，卻沒有人能為我解夢。」
25 約瑟對法老說：「王的夢都是同一個意思，上帝已經藉著夢把祂將要做的事指示王了。 26 七頭肥美的母牛和七個飽滿的穗子都代表七年，是同樣的意思。 27 七頭瘦弱、醜陋的母牛和七個乾癟、被東風吹乾的穗子也代表七年，是七年饑荒。 28 正如我剛才說的，上帝已經把祂將要做的事向王顯明了。 29 埃及全境很快會有七年大豐收， 30 隨後是七年饑荒肆虐全國，之前的豐收將被忘記。 31 饑荒將非常嚴重，之前的豐收將蕩然無存。 32 王的夢出現了兩次，表示上帝的心意已定，上帝必很快成就這事。 33 王應該選一個精明的人，派他治理埃及。 34 王也應該在各地委派官員，在七年豐收期內徵收全國出產的五分之一， 35 把在豐年收集的糧食儲存在各城，歸王管理。 36 這些糧食要留到七年饑荒時用，免得這片土地被饑荒毀滅。」
約瑟做埃及宰相
37 法老和他所有的臣僕都贊同約瑟的建議。 38 法老對臣僕說：「我們哪裡找像這樣有上帝的靈同在的人呢？」 39 法老對約瑟說：「上帝既然把夢的意思指示給你，可見沒人有你這樣的見識和智慧。 40 我要派你管理我家，我的人民都要遵從你的命令，只有我權力比你大。」 41 法老又說：「我現在派你治理埃及全國。」 42 於是，法老摘下手上用來蓋印的戒指，戴在約瑟的手上，給他穿上細麻袍，把金鏈戴在他頸上， 43 讓他坐在自己的第二輛御車上，並有人在御車前高呼：「跪下！」這樣，法老派約瑟治理整個埃及。 44 法老對約瑟說：「我是法老，但沒有你的命令，埃及的任何人都不得擅自行事。」 45 法老賜給約瑟一個名字叫撒發那忒·巴內亞，又把安城祭司波提非拉的女兒亞西納賜給他為妻。約瑟巡視了整個埃及。
46 約瑟三十歲開始為法老效勞，他離開法老去巡視埃及各地。 47 七個豐年之內，埃及糧食大豐收， 48 約瑟收集七個豐年出產的所有糧食，儲藏進各城，每一座城附近出產的糧食都存放在本城。 49 約瑟積存了大量五穀，多如海沙，不可勝數。
50 荒年到來前，安城祭司波提非拉的女兒亞西納給約瑟生了兩個兒子。 51 約瑟給長子取名叫瑪拿西，因為他說：「上帝使我忘記一切的困苦和我父親家。」 52 約瑟給次子取名叫以法蓮，因為他說：「上帝使我在受苦之地昌盛。」
53 七個豐年結束後， 54 七個荒年接踵而至，正如約瑟所言。各地都有饑荒，只有埃及全國有糧食。 55 後來，埃及全國也鬧饑荒，百姓就向法老求糧，法老對他們說：「你們去找約瑟吧，要照他的吩咐做。」
56 饑荒蔓延到整個埃及時，約瑟便開倉賣糧給埃及人。那時，埃及的饑荒非常嚴重。 57 各國的人都到埃及來向約瑟買糧，因為天下到處都是大饑荒。
Genesis 41
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 41
Messenger of Salvation.[a] 1 Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream in which he was alongside the Nile. 2 Seven cows came out of the Nile, beautiful and fat, and they began to graze in the reed grass. 3 Then seven other cows came up out of the Nile after them. They were ugly and thin, and they stopped alongside the first cows on the shore of the Nile. 4 The ugly and thin cows devoured the seven beautiful and fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 He fell back asleep and had a second dream. There were seven heads of grain on one stalk, fat and healthy. 6 But seven empty heads, shriveled by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 7 The seven empty heads swallowed the seven fat and healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8 In the morning, he was very troubled and he summoned all the magicians and wise men in Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dream, but no one knew how to interpret it for him.
9 The cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, “Today I remember that I have done something wrong. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants and had sent me and the chief baker into prison in the care of the captain of the guard. 11 We both had dreams the same night, but each of us had his own dream with its own meaning. 12 There was a young Hebrew there with us, a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them, giving each of us an explanation for his dream. 13 Just what he predicted came true: I was restored to my office, and the other man was impaled.”
14 Pharaoh therefore summoned Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the dungeon. He shaved and changed his clothes and was brought to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream and no one can interpret it. Now I have heard it said that you can hear a dream and immediately interpret it.”
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “Not I, but God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was on the Nile riverbank. 18 Seven fat and beautiful cows came out of the Nile and they began to graze on the reed grass. 19 Then seven other cows came out after them. They were poor and sickly and thin, I had never seen any as ugly in all of Egypt. 20 The thin and ugly cows devoured the seven fat cows.[b] 21 Even after they had eaten them, you still could not see that they had eaten anything. They were still as ugly as they had been before. Then I woke up.
22 “I then had a dream in which seven heads of grain sprouted on a single stalk. They were fat and good. 23 But seven dry heads, empty and shriveled by the east wind, sprouted after them. 24 The empty heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
25 Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are actually one dream. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven beautiful cows are seven years, and the seven beautiful heads of grain are seven years. It is a single dream. 27 The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years and the seven empty heads, withered by the east wind, are seven years. There will be seven years of famine.
28 “It is just as I have told Pharaoh. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will soon be seven years of great abundance in the land of Egypt. 30 Then the seven years after these will be seven years of famine. The years of abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and famine will ravage the land. 31 It will be forgotten that there was abundance in the land, for the famine that will follow will be very severe. 32 As for the fact that the dream was repeated twice, this means that God has decided the matter and God is hastening to fulfill it.
33 “Pharaoh should seek and find an intelligent and wise man and place him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Pharaoh should also appoint overseers in the land to collect a fifth of the produce of the land during the years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food in these good years that are about to take place. They will gather the grain under the authority of Pharaoh and place it in granaries in the cities. 36 This food will serve as a reserve in the land for the seven years of famine that will come upon the land of Egypt. Thus, the land will not be devastated during the famine.”
37 Joseph Is Made Viceroy of Egypt.[c] Pharaoh and all his ministers were pleased with this. 38 Pharaoh said to his ministers, “Could we find another man like this, in whom one finds the Spirit of God?”
39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed all this to you, there is surely no one as intelligent or as wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my house. You shall have authority over all my people. Only the throne shall outrank you.”
41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have made you ruler of the entire land of Egypt.” 42 [d]Pharaoh took the ring off his finger and placed it on the finger of Joseph. He dressed him in clothes made of the finest linen and placed a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in the chariot of his vizier, and before him they cried, “Make way!” He made him ruler of the entire land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one can raise a hand or a foot in the entire land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-peneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, a priest of On,[e] as his wife. Joseph went throughout the entire land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he was brought before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Joseph left the presence of Pharaoh and traveled throughout the entire land of Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land was very fertile. 48 He collected all the food of these seven years when there was abundance in the land of Egypt. He placed the food in the cities, that is, in every city he deposited the food of the surrounding countryside. 49 Joseph gathered as much grain as the sand of the sea, enormous quantities. There was so much that it could no longer be measured, for it was beyond measure.
50 The Great Famine.[f] Joseph had two sons in the years that preceded the famine. They were born to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 51 Joseph called the firstborn Manasseh for, he said, “God has made me forget all my difficulties and my father’s entire family.” 52 He named the second son Ephraim for, he said, “God has made me prosper in the land of my affliction.”
53 The seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. There was famine over the whole earth, but there was food in Egypt.
55 Then the whole land of Egypt began to feel the hunger, and the people cried out to Pharaoh to have food. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.”
56 The famine spread throughout the entire land. So Joseph opened up the storehouses in which he had placed the grain, and he sold it to the Egyptians. The famine kept getting worse in Egypt. 57 People came to Egypt from every country to buy grain from Joseph, for the famine was severe over the whole earth.
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:1 Joseph here represents the divine wisdom (Wis 10:14), which is far more effective than the efforts of the soothsayers; God alone knows the meaning of events because he alone is master of them.
- Genesis 41:20 For the Egyptians the cow was a symbol of Hator. goddess of fertility, protector of the Nile, and goddess of the “Great Wave,” that is, the ocean. Seven cows symbolized Osiris, inventor of agriculture and of the seven-year cycle (the people had linked the alternate flooding of the Nile and drought with the seven-year cycle). It was believed that during a famine, animals and human beings devoured one another, in a meeting of death with hunger.
- Genesis 41:37 God’s Providence has turned the situation in Joseph’s favor. Invested as prime minister in the most pure Egyptian tradition, Joseph now presides over the destiny of the country to which he was sold as a slave.
- Genesis 41:42 The ring, fine linen robes, and gold neck-chain are the insignia of authority; they may also be seen on monuments. “Make way!”: Hebrew, Abrech, which may also mean “Kneel down!” and be a command to show supreme honor. Zaphenath-peneah: the meaning of the name is obscure; perhaps it means “God says: He is alive” or “He who explains hidden things.”
- Genesis 41:45 On: i.e., Heliopolis.
- Genesis 41:50 Joseph’s foresight and adroit administration avert a disaster in Egypt and turn the country into the granary of the Near East.
Genesis 41
1599 Geneva Bible
41 26 Pharaoh’s dreams are expounded by Joseph. 40 He is made ruler over all Egypt. 45 Joseph’s name is changed. 50 He hath two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.
1 And [a]two years after, Pharaoh also [b]dreamed, and behold, he stood by a river.
2 And lo, there came out of the river seven [c]goodly kine and fat-fleshed, and they fed in a [d]meadow.
3 And lo, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, evil favored and lean fleshed, and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4 And the evil favored and lean fleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine: so Pharaoh awoke.
5 Again he slept, and dreamed the [e]second time: and behold, seven ears of corn grew upon one stalk, rank and goodly.
6 And lo, seven thin ears, and blasted with the East wind, sprang up after them.
7 And the thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears, then Pharaoh awaked, and lo it was a dream.
8 Now when the morning came, his spirit was [f]troubled: therefore he sent and called all the soothsayers of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof, and Pharaoh told them his dreams: but [g]none could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I [h]call to mind my faults this day.
10 Pharaoh being angry with his servants, put me in ward in the chief steward’s house, both me, and the chief baker.
11 Then we dreamed a dream in one night both I, and he: we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12 And there was with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant unto the chief steward, whom when we told, he declared our dreams to [i]us, to everyone he declared according to his dream.
13 And as he declared unto us, so it came to pass: for he restored me to mine office, and hanged him.
14 (A)Then sent Pharaoh, and called [j]Joseph and they brought him hastily out of prison, and he shaved him, and changed his raiment, and came to Pharaoh.
15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and no man can interpret it, and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [k]Without me God shall [l]answer for the wealth of Pharaoh.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: In my dream, behold, I stood by the bank of the river:
18 And lo, there came up out of the river seven fat fleshed, and well favored kine. and they fed in the meadow.
19 Also lo, seven other kine came up after them poor and very [m]evil favored kine, and lean fleshed: I never saw the like in all the land of Egypt, for evil favored.
20 And the lean and the evil favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine.
21 And when they [n]had eaten them up: it could not be known that they had eaten them, but they were still as evil favored, as they were at the beginning: so did I awake.
22 Moreover I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears sprang out of one stalk, full and fair.
23 And lo, seven ears withered, thin, and blasted with the East wind, sprang up after them.
24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. Now I have told the soothsayers, and none can declare it unto me.
25 ¶ Then Joseph answered Pharaoh, [o]Both Pharaoh’s dreams are one. God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good Kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years: this is one dream.
27 Likewise the seven thin and evil favored kine, that came out after them, are seven years: and the seven empty ears blasted with the East wind, are seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have said unto Pharaoh, that God hath showed unto Pharaoh, what he is about to do.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great [p]plenty in all the land of Egypt.
30 Again, there shall arise after them seven years of famine, so that all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land:
31 Neither shall the plenty [q]be known in the land, by reason of this famine that shall come after, for it shall be exceeding great.
32 And therefore the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh the second time, because the thing is established by God, and God hasteth to perform it.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh [r]provide for a man of understanding and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh make and appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 Also let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh for food, in the cities, and let them keep it.
36 So the food shall be for the provision of the land, against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not by famine.
37 ¶ And the saying pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38 Then said Pharaoh unto his servants, Can we find such a man as this, in whom is the [s]Spirit of God?
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is no man of understanding, or wisdom like unto thee.
40 (B)Thou shalt be over mine house, and at thy [t][u]word shall all my people be armed, only in the king’s throne will I be above thee.
41 Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, Behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his [v]ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a golden chain about his neck.
43 So he sat him upon the [w]best chariot that he had, save one: and they cried before him, [x]Abrech, and placed him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Again Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in the land of Egypt.
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name [y]Zaphnath-Paaneah: and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah [z]Prince of On: then went Joseph abroad in the land of Egypt.
46 ¶ And Joseph was [aa]thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh King of Egypt: and Joseph departing from the presence of Pharaoh, went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth [ab]brought forth store.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven plenteous years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, that was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 So Joseph gathered wheat, like unto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, until he left numbering: for it was without number.
50 Now unto Joseph were born (C)two sons (before the year of famine came) which Asenath the daughter of Poti-Pherah prince 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 labor and all my [ac]father’s household.
52 Also he called the name of the second, Ephraim: For God, said he, hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.
53 ¶ So the seven years of the plenty that was in the land of Egypt were ended.
54 (D)Then began the seven years of famine to come, according as Joseph had said: and the famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt was [ad]bread.
55 At the length all the land of Egypt was famished, and the people cried unto Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph: what he saith to you, do ye.
56 When the famine was upon all the land, Joseph opened all places, wherein the store was, and sold unto the Egyptians: for the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all the countries [ae]came to Egypt to buy corn of Joseph, because the famine was sore in all lands.
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:1 Hebrew, at the end of two years of days.
- Genesis 41:1 This dream was not so much for Pharaoh, as to be a means to deliver Joseph, and to provide for God’s Church.
- Genesis 41:2 Or, fair to behold.
- Genesis 41:2 Or, staggie place.
- Genesis 41:5 All these means God used to deliver his servant, and to bring him into favor and authority.
- Genesis 41:8 This fear was enough to teach him that this vision was sent of God.
- Genesis 41:8 The wise of the world understand not God’s secrets, but to his servants his will is revealed.
- Genesis 41:9 He confesseth his fault against the king before he speak of Joseph.
- Genesis 41:12 Read Gen. 40:5.
- Genesis 41:14 The wicked seek to the Prophets of God in their necessity, whom in their prosperity they abhor.
- Genesis 41:16 As though he would say, if I interpret thy dream it cometh of God, and not of me.
- Genesis 41:16 Hebrew, answer peace.
- Genesis 41:19 Hebrew, naught.
- Genesis 41:21 Hebrew, were gone into their inward parts.
- Genesis 41:25 Both his dreams tend to one end.
- Genesis 41:29 Or, abundance and saturity.
- Genesis 41:31 Or, they shall remember no more the plenty.
- Genesis 41:33 The office of a true Prophet is not only to show the evils to come, but also the remedies for the same.
- Genesis 41:38 None should be preferred to honor that have not gifts of God meet for the same.
- Genesis 41:40 Hebrew, mouth.
- Genesis 41:40 Some read, the people shall kiss thy mouth, that is shall obey thee in all things.
- Genesis 41:42 Or, his signet.
- Genesis 41:43 Hebrew, second chariot.
- Genesis 41:43 In sign of honor: which word some expound, tender father, or father of the king, or kneel down.
- Genesis 41:45 Or, the expounder of secrets.
- Genesis 41:45 Or, priest.
- Genesis 41:46 His age is mentioned both to show that his authority came of God, and also that he suffered imprisonment and exile twelve years and more.
- Genesis 41:47 Hebrew, made for gatherings.
- Genesis 41:51 Notwithstanding that his father’s house was the true Church of God: yet the company of the wicked and prosperity caused him to forget it.
- Genesis 41:54 Or, food.
- Genesis 41:57 Or, came to Egypt to Joseph.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
