Joseph’s Dreams

37 Now Jacob lived in (A)the land where his father had lived as a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the records of the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, when he was (B)seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers, while he was still a youth, along with (C)the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a (D)bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was (E)the son of his old age; and he made him a [a](F)multicolored tunic. And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they (G)hated him and could not speak to him [b]on friendly terms.

Then Joseph [c](H)had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have [d]had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf stood up and also remained standing; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and (I)bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “(J)Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Then he [e]had yet another dream, and informed his brothers of it, and said, “Behold, I have [f]had yet another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He also told it to his father as well as to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have [g]had? Am I and your mother and (K)your brothers actually going to come to bow down to the ground before you?” 11 And (L)his brothers were jealous of him, but his father (M)kept the matter in mind.

12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are your brothers not pasturing the flock in (N)Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “[h]I will go.” 14 Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Valley of (O)Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “[i]What are you looking for?” 16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to (P)Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

The Plot against Joseph

18 [j]When they saw him from a distance, and before he came closer to them, they (Q)plotted against him to put him to death. 19 They said to one another, “[k]Here comes this dreamer! 20 Now then, come and let’s kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and (R)we will say, ‘A vicious animal devoured him.’ Then we will see what will become of his dreams!” 21 But (S)Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands [l]by saying, “Let’s not [m]take his life.” 22 Then Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—so that later he might rescue him out of their hands, to return him to his father. 23 So it came about, when Joseph [n]reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the [o]multicolored tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat [p]a meal. But as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of (T)Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying (U)labdanum resin, (V)balsam, and [q]myrrh, [r]on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and (W)cover up his blood? 27 (X)Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some (Y)Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him out and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and (Z)sold [s]him to the Ishmaelites for [t]twenty shekels of silver. So (AA)they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29 Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he (AB)tore his garments. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “(AC)The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” 31 So (AD)they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood; 32 and they sent the [u]multicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please [v]examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” 33 Then he [w]examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. (AE)A vicious animal has devoured him; (AF)Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34 So Jacob (AG)tore his clothes, and put on a sackcloth undergarment over his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 Then all his sons and all his daughters got up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will (AH)go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the [x]Midianites (AI)sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 37:3 Or full-length tunic
  2. Genesis 37:4 Lit in peace
  3. Genesis 37:5 Lit dreamed
  4. Genesis 37:6 Lit dreamed
  5. Genesis 37:9 Lit dreamed
  6. Genesis 37:9 Lit dreamed
  7. Genesis 37:10 Lit dreamed
  8. Genesis 37:13 Lit Behold me
  9. Genesis 37:15 Lit saying, “What...?”
  10. Genesis 37:18 Or And
  11. Genesis 37:19 Lit Behold, this master of dreams comes
  12. Genesis 37:21 Lit and said
  13. Genesis 37:21 Lit strike his soul
  14. Genesis 37:23 Lit came to
  15. Genesis 37:23 Or full-length tunic
  16. Genesis 37:25 Lit bread
  17. Genesis 37:25 Or resinous bark
  18. Genesis 37:25 Lit going
  19. Genesis 37:28 Lit Joseph
  20. Genesis 37:28 About 10 oz. or 280 gm
  21. Genesis 37:32 Or full-length tunic
  22. Genesis 37:32 Or recognize
  23. Genesis 37:33 Or recognized
  24. Genesis 37:36 Lit Medanites

约瑟的梦

37 雅各住在他父亲寄居的迦南, 以下是有关雅各一家的记载。

十七岁的少年约瑟跟哥哥们,就是雅各的妾辟拉和悉帕生的儿子们一同放羊。他向父亲报告哥哥们做的坏事。 约瑟是以色列年老时生的,以色列特别宠爱他,为他做了一件彩衣。 约瑟的哥哥们见父亲偏爱他,就怀恨在心,对他恶言相向。

约瑟做了一个梦,并告诉了哥哥们,他们更恨他了。 约瑟对哥哥们说:“你们听听我做的梦—— 我们在田里捆庄稼,我捆的庄稼站起来,你们捆的庄稼都围着我捆的庄稼下拜。” 他的哥哥们回答说:“难道你真想做我们的王统治我们吗?”他们因约瑟的梦和他说的话而更恨他。

后来,约瑟又做了一个梦,他又去对哥哥们说:“你们听听我做的另一个梦,我梦见太阳、月亮和十一颗星星都向我下拜。” 10 约瑟把梦告诉了父亲和哥哥们,他父亲就责备他说:“你做的是什么梦!难道你的父母弟兄都要来向你俯伏下拜吗?” 11 约瑟的哥哥们嫉恨他,他父亲却把这些话记在心里。

12 约瑟的哥哥们到示剑放父亲的羊。 13 以色列把约瑟叫来,对他说:“你哥哥们在示剑放羊,我要派你去他们那里。”约瑟说:“好的。” 14 以色列说:“你去看看你哥哥们以及羊群是否平安,然后回来告诉我。”于是,约瑟就从希伯仑谷出发去示剑。 15 有人见他在田野走迷了路,就问他:“你在找什么?” 16 约瑟回答说:“我在找我哥哥们,你知道他们在哪里放羊吗?” 17 那人说:“他们已经走了,我听他们说要到多坍去。”约瑟就赶往多坍,在那里找到了他们。

18 约瑟的哥哥们远远看见他走来,趁他还没有到跟前,就合谋要害死他。 19 他们彼此商量说:“看!做梦的来了。 20 来吧!我们杀了他,把他扔在井里,就说有野兽把他吃掉了,看他的梦怎么实现。” 21 吕便听后想救约瑟的性命,就说:“我们不要害他性命。” 22 他又说:“不要杀人流血,把他扔在这口井里吧,不要下手害他。”吕便想救约瑟,把他交回给父亲。 23 这时候,约瑟来了,他们就脱去他身上的彩衣, 24 把他扔到井里。当时,那口井是干的,没有水。

25 他们坐下来吃饭的时候,看见一队从基列来的以实玛利商人用骆驼驮着香料、乳香、没药去埃及。 26 犹大对他的众弟兄说:“我们杀死弟弟、掩盖罪行有什么益处呢? 27 不如把他卖给以实玛利人,不要下手害他,他毕竟是我们的弟弟,我们的骨肉啊!”其他弟兄都赞成他的意见。 28 于是,那些米甸商人经过的时候,他们就把约瑟从井里拉上来,以二百二十克银子的价钱把他卖给了以实玛利人。这些商人把他带到埃及去了。

29 吕便回到井边发现约瑟不见了,就伤心地撕裂了身上的衣服, 30 回到弟兄们那里说:“那少年不见了,我现在怎么办?” 31 他们宰了一只公山羊,把血染在约瑟的彩衣上, 32 拿去给父亲,说:“我们捡到这件衣服,你看看是不是你儿子的?” 33 雅各认出那件彩衣,说:“这是我儿子的衣服,一定是野兽把他吃了,约瑟一定被撕碎了!” 34 雅各撕裂自己的衣服,束上麻布,为约瑟哀伤了好几天。 35 他的儿女都来安慰他,他却不肯接受他们的安慰,说:“我一定会凄凄惨惨地下到阴间,去我儿子那里。”约瑟的父亲为他哀哭。

36 那些米甸人把约瑟带到埃及后,把他卖给了法老的内臣——护卫长波提乏。

37 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.