Genesis 41

1 After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,

1 過了兩年，法老做夢，夢見自己站在河邊，

2 when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

2 有七隻母牛從河裏上來，又美好又肥壯，在蘆荻中吃草。

3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.

3 隨後又有七隻母牛從河裏上來，又醜陋又乾瘦，與那七隻母牛一同站在河邊。

4 And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,

4 這又醜陋又乾瘦的七隻母牛吃盡了那又美好又肥壯的七隻母牛。法老就醒了。

5 but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.

5 他又睡着，第二回做夢，夢見一棵麥子長了七個穗子，又肥大又佳美，

6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.

6 隨後又長了七個穗子，又細弱又被東風吹焦了。

7 And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.

7 這細弱的穗子吞了那七個又肥大又飽滿的穗子。法老醒了，不料是個夢。

8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

8 到了早晨，法老心裏不安，就差人召了埃及所有的術士和博士來；法老就把所做的夢告訴他們，卻沒有人能給法老圓解。

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.

9 那時酒政對法老說：「我今日想起我的罪來。

10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.

10 從前法老惱怒臣僕，把我和膳長下在護衛長府內的監裏。

11 One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.

11 我們二人同夜各做一夢，各夢都有講解。

12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually.

12 在那裏同着我們有一個希伯來的少年人，是護衛長的僕人，我們告訴他，他就把我們的夢圓解，是按着各人的夢圓解的。

13 And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”

13 後來正如他給我們圓解的成就了：我官復原職，膳長被掛起來了。」

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.

14 法老遂即差人去召約瑟，他們便急忙帶他出監，他就剃頭，刮臉，換衣裳，進到法老面前。

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

15 法老對約瑟說：「我做了一夢，沒有人能解；我聽見人說，你聽了夢就能解。」

16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

16 約瑟回答法老說：「這不在乎我，上帝必將平安的話回答法老。」

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

17 法老對約瑟說：「我夢見我站在河邊，

18 when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

18 有七隻母牛從河裏上來，又肥壯又美好，在蘆荻中吃草。

19 After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!

19 隨後又有七隻母牛上來，又軟弱又醜陋又乾瘦，在埃及遍地，我沒有見過這樣不好的。

20 Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.

20 這又乾瘦又醜陋的母牛吃盡了那以先的七隻肥母牛，

21 When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke.

21 吃了以後卻看不出是吃了，那醜陋的樣子仍舊和先前一樣。我就醒了。

22 In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.

22 我又夢見一棵麥子，長了七個穗子，又飽滿又佳美，

23 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.

23 隨後又長了七個穗子，枯槁細弱，被東風吹焦了。

24 And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”

24 這些細弱的穗子吞了那七個佳美的穗子。我將這夢告訴了術士，卻沒有人能給我解說。」

25 At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

25 約瑟對法老說：「法老的夢乃是一個。上帝已將所要做的事指示法老了。

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.

26 七隻好母牛是七年，七個好穗子也是七年；這夢乃是一個。

27 Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine.

27 那隨後上來的七隻又乾瘦又醜陋的母牛是七年，那七個虛空、被東風吹焦的穗子也是七年，都是七個荒年。

28 It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

28 這就是我對法老所說，上帝已將所要做的事顯明給法老了。

29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,

29 埃及遍地必來七個大豐年，

30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land.

30 隨後又要來七個荒年，甚至在埃及地都忘了先前的豐收，全地必被饑荒所滅。

31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

31 因那以後的饑荒甚大，便不覺得先前的豐收了。

32 Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.

32 至於法老兩回做夢，是因上帝命定這事，而且必速速成就。

33 Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.

33 所以，法老當揀選一個有聰明有智慧的人，派他治理埃及地。

34 Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

34 法老當這樣行，又派官員管理這地。當七個豐年的時候，征收埃及地的五分之一，

35 Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities.

35 叫他們把將來豐年一切的糧食聚斂起來，積蓄五穀，收存在各城裏做食物，歸於法老的手下。

36 This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

36 所積蓄的糧食可以防備埃及地將來的七個荒年，免得這地被饑荒所滅。」

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.

37 法老和他一切臣僕都以這事為妙。

38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”

38 法老對臣僕說：「像這樣的人，有上帝的靈在他裏頭，我們豈能找得着呢？」

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

39 法老對約瑟說：「上帝既將這事都指示你，可見沒有人像你這樣有聰明有智慧。

40 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

40 你可以掌管我的家；我的民都必聽從你的話。惟獨在寶座上我比你大。」

41 Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”

41 法老又對約瑟說：「我派你治理埃及全地。」

42 Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.

42 法老就摘下手上打印的戒指，戴在約瑟的手上，給他穿上細麻衣，把金鍊戴在他的頸項上，

43 He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

43 又叫約瑟坐他的副車，喝道的在前呼叫說：「跪下。」這樣，法老派他治理埃及全地。

44 And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”

44 法老對約瑟說：「我是法老，在埃及全地，若沒有你的命令，不許人擅自辦事 。」

45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.

45 法老賜名給約瑟，叫撒發那忒‧巴內亞，又將安城的祭司波提非拉的女兒亞西納給他為妻。約瑟就出去巡行埃及地。

46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

46 約瑟見埃及王法老的時候年三十歲。他從法老面前出去，遍行埃及全地。

47 During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.

47 七個豐年之內，地的出產極豐極盛 ，

48 During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it.

48 約瑟聚斂埃及地七個豐年一切的糧食，把糧食積存在各城裏；各城周圍田地的糧食都積存在本城裏。

49 So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.

49 約瑟積蓄五穀甚多，如同海邊的沙，無法計算，因為穀不可勝數。

50 Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

50 荒年未到以前，安城的祭司波提非拉的女兒亞西納給約瑟生了兩個兒子。

51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”

51 約瑟給長子起名叫瑪拿西 ，因為他說：「上帝使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。」

52 And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

52 他給次子起名叫以法蓮 ，因為他說：「上帝使我在受苦的地方昌盛。」

53 When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,

53 埃及地的七個豐年一完，

54 the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt.

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 When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”

55 及至埃及全地有了饑荒，眾民向法老哀求糧食，法老對他們說：「你們往約瑟那裏去，凡他所說的，你們都要做。」

56 When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

56 當時饑荒遍滿天下，約瑟開了各處的倉，糶糧給埃及人；在埃及地饑荒甚大。

57 And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

57 各地的人都往埃及去，到約瑟那裏糴糧，因為天下的饑荒甚大。