創世記四十一章1至57節（讀經節錄1-4節）

1過了兩年，法老做夢，夢見自己站在河邊，

2有七隻母牛從河裡上來，又美好又肥壯，在蘆荻中吃草。

3隨後又有七隻母牛從河裡上來，又醜陋又乾瘦，與那七隻母牛一同站在河邊。

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他又睡著，第二回做夢，夢見一棵麥子長了七個穗子，又肥大又佳美，

6隨後又長了七個穗子，又細弱又被東風吹焦了。

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到了早晨，法老心裡不安，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那時酒政對法老說：我今日想起我的罪來。

10從前法老惱怒臣僕，把我和膳長下在護衛長府內的監裡。

11我們二人同夜各做一夢，各夢都有講解。

12在那裡同著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，是按著各人的夢圓解的。

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約瑟回答法老說：這不在乎我，神必將平安的話回答法老。

17法老對約瑟說：我夢見我站在河邊，

18有七隻母牛從河裡上來，又肥壯又美好，在蘆荻中吃草。

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這又乾瘦又醜陋的母牛吃盡了那以先的七隻肥母牛，

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我又夢見一棵麥子，長了七個穗子，又飽滿又佳美，

23隨後又長了七個穗子，枯槁細弱，被東風吹焦了。

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

25約瑟對法老說：法老的夢乃是一個。神已將所要做的事指示法老了。

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這就是我對法老所說，神已將所要做的事顯明給法老了。

29埃及遍地必來七個大豐年，

30隨後又要來七個荒年，甚至埃及地都忘了先前的豐收，全地必被饑荒所滅。

31因那以後的饑荒甚大，便不覺得先前的豐收了。

32至於法老兩回做夢，是因神命定這事，而且必速速成就。

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，收存在各城裡做食物，歸於法老的手下。

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法老和他一切臣僕都以這事為妙。

38法老對臣僕說：像這樣的人，有神的靈在他裡頭，我們豈能找得著呢？

39法老對約瑟說：神既將這事都指示你，可見沒有人像你這樣有聰明有智慧。

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法老又對約瑟說：我派你治理埃及全地。

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(原文作動手動腳)。

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。

47七個豐年之內，地的出產極豐極盛(原文作一把一把的)，

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

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約瑟給長子起名叫瑪拿西(就是使之忘了的意思)，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(就是使之昌盛的意思)，因為他說：神使我在受苦的地方昌盛。

53埃及地的七個豐年一完，

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：你們往約瑟那裡去，凡他所說的，你們都要做。

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各地的人都往埃及去，到約瑟那裡糴糧，因為天下的饑荒甚大。

Genesis 41:1-57

1 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.

2 Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.

3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river.

4 And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.

5 He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good.

6 Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them.

7 And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.

8 Now 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 its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day.

10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,

11 we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.

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

13 And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”

16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river.

18 Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.

19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt.

20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows.

21 When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke.

22 Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good.

23 Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them.

24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one.

27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine.

28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

29 Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt;

30 but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land.

31 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.

32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years.

35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

36 Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”

37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.

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

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

40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.

44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

46 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 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly.

48 So 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; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.

49 Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.

50 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.

51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”

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

53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended,

54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.”

56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt.

57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.