Genesis 47

1 So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.”

1 約瑟進去告訴法老說：「我的父親和我的弟兄帶着羊群牛群，並一切所有的，從迦南地來了，如今在歌珊地。」

2 And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

2 約瑟從他弟兄中挑出五個人來，引他們去見法老。

3 “What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”

3 法老問約瑟的弟兄說：「你們以何事為業？」他們對法老說：「你僕人是牧羊的，連我們的祖宗也是牧羊的。」

4 Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”

4 他們又對法老說：「迦南地的饑荒甚大，僕人的羊群沒有草吃，所以我們來到這地寄居。現在求你容僕人住在歌珊地。」

5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have come to you,

5 法老對約瑟說：「你父親和你弟兄到你這裏來了，

6 the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

6 埃及地都在你面前，只管叫你父親和你弟兄住在國中最好的地；他們可以住在歌珊地。你若知道他們中間有甚麼能人，就派他們看管我的牲畜。」

7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

7 約瑟領他父親雅各進到法老面前，雅各就給法老祝福。

8 “How many years have you lived?” Pharaoh asked.

8 法老問雅各說：「你平生的年日是多少呢？」

9 “My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”

9 雅各對法老說：「我寄居在世的年日是一百三十歲，我平生的年日又少又苦，不及我列祖在世寄居的年日。」

10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.

10 雅各又給法老祝福，就從法老面前出去了。

11 So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

11 約瑟遵着法老的命，把埃及國最好的地，就是蘭塞境內的地，給他父親和弟兄居住，作為產業。

12 Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father’s household with food for their families.

12 約瑟用糧食奉養他父親和他弟兄，並他父親全家的眷屬，都是照各家的人口奉養他們。

13 There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine.

13 饑荒甚大，全地都絕了糧，甚至埃及地和迦南地的人因那饑荒的緣故都餓昏了。

14 Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace.

14 約瑟收聚了埃及地和迦南地所有的銀子，就是眾人糴糧的銀子，約瑟就把那銀子帶到法老的宮裏。

15 When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”

15 埃及地和迦南地的銀子都花盡了，埃及眾人都來見約瑟，說：「我們的銀子都用盡了，求你給我們糧食，我們為甚麼死在你面前呢？」

16 “Then bring me your livestock,” said Joseph. “Since the money is gone, I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock.”

16 約瑟說：「若是銀子用盡了，可以把你們的牲畜給我，我就為你們的牲畜給你們糧食。」

17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. Throughout that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

17 於是他們把牲畜趕到約瑟那裏，約瑟就拿糧食換了他們的牛、羊、驢、馬；那一年因換他們一切的牲畜，就用糧食養活他們。

18 When that year was over, they came to him the second year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord that our money is gone and all our livestock belongs to you. There is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.

18 那一年過去，第二年他們又來見約瑟，說：「我們不瞞我主，我們的銀子都花盡了，牲畜也都歸了我主。我們在我主眼前，除了我們的身體和田地之外，一無所剩。

19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Purchase us and our land in exchange for food. Then we, along with our land, will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”

19 你何忍見我們人死地荒呢？求你用糧食買我們和我們的地，我們和我們的地就要給法老效力。又求你給我們種子，使我們得以存活，不致死亡，地土也不致荒涼。」

20 So Joseph acquired for Pharaoh all the land in Egypt; the Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields because the famine was so severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh’s,

20 於是，約瑟為法老買了埃及所有的地，埃及人因被饑荒所迫，各都賣了自己的田地；那地就都歸了法老。

21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude from one end of Egypt to the other.

21 至於百姓，約瑟叫他們，從埃及這邊直到埃及那邊，都各歸各城。

22 However, he did not acquire the priests’ portion of the land, for it had been given to them by Pharaoh. They ate the rations that Pharaoh supplied; so they did not sell their land.

22 惟有祭司的地，約瑟沒有買，因為祭司有從法老所得的常俸。他們吃法老所給的常俸，所以他們不賣自己的地。

23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh this day, here is seed for you to sow in the land.

23 約瑟對百姓說：「我今日為法老買了你們和你們的地，看哪，這裏有種子給你們，你們可以種地。

24 At harvest time, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and food for yourselves and your households and children.”

24 後來打糧食的時候，你們要把五分之一納給法老，四分可以歸你們做地裏的種子，也做你們和你們家口孩童的食物。」

25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “We have found favor in our lord’s eyes, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”

25 他們說：「你救了我們的性命。但願我們在我主眼前蒙恩，我們就作法老的僕人。」

26 So Joseph established a law that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, and it is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.

26 於是約瑟為埃及地定下常例，直到今日：法老必得五分之一，惟獨祭司的地不歸法老。

27 Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.

27 以色列人住在埃及的歌珊地。他們在那裏置了產業，並且生育甚多。

28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the length of his life was 147 years.

28 雅各住在埃及地十七年，雅各平生的年日是一百四十七歲。

29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,

29 以色列的死期臨近了，他就叫了他兒子約瑟來，說：「我若在你眼前蒙恩，請你把手放在我大腿底下，用慈愛和誠實待我，請你不要將我葬在埃及。

30 but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.”

30 我與我祖我父同睡的時候，你要將我帶出埃及，葬在他們所葬的地方。」約瑟說：「我必遵着你的命而行。」

31 “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

31 雅各說：「你要向我起誓。」約瑟就向他起了誓，於是以色列在床頭上 敬拜上帝。