JOSEPH INTERPRETING PHARAOH'S DREAM.
And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
And 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 the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
[At the suggestion of his chief butler Pharaoh sends for Joseph and relates to him his dreams, which Joseph interprets as follows:]
And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.—Genesis xli. 1-36.
【创40:1】 这事以后,埃及王的酒政和膳长得罪了他们的主埃及王,
Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.
【创40:2】 法老就恼怒酒政和膳长这二臣,
Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,
【创40:3】 把他们下在护卫长府内的监里,就是约瑟被囚的地方。
and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.
【创40:4】 护卫长把他们交给约瑟,约瑟便伺候他们。他们有些日子在监里。
The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time,
【创40:5】 被囚在监之埃及王的酒政和膳长二人同夜各作一梦,各梦都有讲解。
each of the two men-the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison-had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
【创40:6】 到了早晨,约瑟进到他们那里,见他们有愁闷的样子。
When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.
【创40:7】 他便问法老的二臣,就是与他同囚在他主人府里的,说,他们今日为什么面带愁容呢?
So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, 'Why are your faces so sad today?'
【创40:8】 他们对他说,我们各人作了一梦,没有人能解。约瑟说,解梦不是出于神吗?请你们将梦告诉我。
'We both had dreams,' they answered, 'but there is no one to interpret them.' Then Joseph said to them, 'Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.'
【创40:9】 酒政便将他的梦告诉约瑟说,我梦见在我面前有一棵葡萄树,
So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, 'In my dream I saw a vine in front of me,
【创40:10】 树上有三根枝子,好像发了芽,开了花,上头的葡萄都成熟了。
and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes.
【创40:11】 法老的杯在我手中,我就拿葡萄挤在法老的杯里,将杯递在他手中。
Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup and put the cup in his hand.'
【创40:12】 约瑟对他说,他所作的梦是这样解,三根枝子就是三天。
'This is what it means,' Joseph said to him. 'The three branches are three days.
【创40:13】 三天之内,法老必提你出监,叫你官复原职,你仍要递杯在法老的手中,和先前作他的酒政一样。
Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.
【创40:14】 但你得好处的时候,求你记念我,施恩与我,在法老面前提说我,救我出这监牢。
But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.
【创40:15】 我实在是从希伯来人之地被拐来的。我在这里也没有作过什么,叫他们把我下在监里。
For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.'
【创40:16】 膳长见梦解得好,就对约瑟说,我在梦中见我头上顶着三筐白饼。
When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, 'I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.
【创40:17】 极上的筐子里有为法老烤的各样食物,有飞鸟来吃我头上筐子里的食物。
In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.'
【创40:18】 约瑟说,你的梦是这样解,三个筐子就是三天。
'This is what it means,' Joseph said. 'The three baskets are three days.
【创40:19】 三天之内,法老必斩断你的头,把你挂在木头上,必有飞鸟来吃你身上的肉。
Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh.'
【创40:20】 到了第三天,是法老的生日,他为众臣仆设摆筵席,把酒政和膳长提出监来,
Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials:
【创40:21】 使酒政官复原职,他仍旧递杯在法老手中。
He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand,
【创40:22】 但把膳长挂起来,正如约瑟向他们所解的话。
but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.
【创40:23】 酒政却不记念约瑟,竟忘了他。
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.