Genesis
Chapter41
1Afteralapseoftwoyears,Pharaohhadadream.HesawhimselfstandingbytheNile,
过了两年,法郎作了一梦,梦见自己站在尼罗河畔。
2whenupoutoftheNilecamesevencows,handsomeandfat;theygrazedinthereedgrass.
看见从尼罗河中上来了七只母牛,色美体肥,在芦苇中吃草。
3Behindthemsevenothercows,uglyandgaunt,cameupoutoftheNile;andstandingonthebankoftheNilebesidetheothers,
随后,从尼罗河中,又上来了七只色丑体瘦的母牛,站在尼罗河岸上靠近那些母牛身旁。
4theugly,gauntcowsateupthesevenhandsome,fatcows.ThenPharaohwokeup.
这些色丑体瘦的母牛,竟将那七只色美体肥的母牛吞了下去;法郎便惊醒了。
5Hefellasleepagainandhadanotherdream.Hesawsevenearsofgrain,fatandhealthy,growingonasinglestalk.
他又睡下,作了一个梦,梦见在一根麦茎上,生出了七枝又肥又美的麦穗;
6Behindthemsproutedsevenearsofgrain,thinandblastedbytheeastwind;
随后,又发出了七枝又细弱,而又为东风吹焦了的麦穗。
7andtheseventhinearsswallowedupthesevenfat,healthyears.ThenPharaohwokeup,tofinditwasonlyadream.
这些细弱的麦穗竟将那七枝又肥又实的麦穗吞了下去。法郎惊醒了,原是一场梦。
8Nextmorninghisspiritwasagitated.SohesummonedallthemagiciansandsagesofEgyptandrecountedhisdreamstothem;butnoonecouldinterprethisdreamsforhim.
到了早晨,他心烦意乱,遂遣人将埃及所有的术士和贤士召来,给他们讲述了自己的梦,却没有人能给法郎解释。
9ThenthechiefcupbearerspokeupandsaidtoPharaoh:"OnthisoccasionIamremindedofmynegligence.
那时司酒长向法郎说:"我今天想起了我的过犯。
10Once,whenPharaohwasangry,heputmeandthechiefbakerincustodyinthehouseofthechiefsteward.
有一次陛下对自己的臣仆发怒,将我和司厨长关在卫队长府内的拘留所内。
11Later,webothhaddreamsonthesamenight,andeachofourdreamshaditsownmeaning.
我和他在同一夜里,各作了一梦,我们每人的梦都有它的意义。
12TherewithuswasaHebrewyouth,aslaveofthechiefsteward;andwhenwetoldhimourdreams,heinterpretedthemforusandexplainedforeachofusthemeaningofhisdream.
在那里有个希伯来少年人与我们在一起,他是卫队长的仆人;当我们把梦告诉了他,他就给我们加以解释,给每个人的梦都说明了它的意义。
13Anditturnedoutjustashehadtoldus:Iwasrestoredtomypost,buttheothermanwasimpaled."
果然,都照他给我们所解释的应验了:我恢复了原职,他却被吊死了。"
14PharaohthereforehadJosephsummoned,andtheyhurriedlybroughthimfromthedungeon.Afterheshavedandchangedhisclothes,hecameintoPharaoh'spresence.
法郎于是遣人去召若瑟,人就快把他从地牢里提出来;他剃了头,刮了脸,换了衣服,来到法郎跟前。
15Pharaohthensaidtohim:"Ihadcertaindreamsthatnoonecaninterpret.ButIhearitsaidofyouthatthemomentyouaretoldadreamyoucaninterpretit."
法郎对若瑟说:"我作了一梦,没有人能够解释。我听见人说,你听了梦就能解释。"
16"ItisnotI,"JosephrepliedtoPharaoh,"butGodwhowillgivePharaohtherightanswer."
若瑟回答法郎说:"这不是我所能的,只有天主能给陛下一个吉祥的解答。"
17ThenPharaohsaidtoJoseph:"Inmydream,IwasstandingonthebankoftheNile,
法郎遂向若瑟说:"我梦见我站在尼罗河上,
18whenupfromtheNilecamesevencows,fatandwell-formed;theygrazedinthereedgrass.
看见从河中上来了七只母牛,体肥色美,在芦苇丛中吃草。
19Behindthemcamesevenothercows,scrawny,mostill-formedandgaunt.NeverhaveIseensuchuglyspecimensastheseinallthelandofEgypt!
随后,又上来了七只母牛,软弱无力,色丑体瘦,那种丑陋,我在埃及全国从未见过。
20Thegaunt,uglycowsateupthefirstsevenfatcows.
这些又瘦又丑的母牛,竟将先上来的那七只肥母牛吞了下去。
21Butwhentheyhadconsumedthem,noonecouldtellthattheyhaddoneso,becausetheylookedasuglyasbefore.ThenIwokeup.
它们吞下去之后,竟看不出来它们吞了下去,因为它们丑陋的样子和先前一样,我就惊醒了。
22InanotherdreamIsawsevenearsofgrain,fatandhealthy,growingonasinglestalk.
以后我又梦见在一根麦茎上,生出了七枝粗大美丽的麦穗。
23Behindthemsproutedsevenearsofgrain,shriveledandthinandblastedbytheeastwind;
随后,又发出了七枝枯萎细弱而又被东风吹焦了的麦穗。
24andtheseventhinearsswallowedupthesevenhealthyears.Ihavespokentothemagicians,butnoneofthemcangivemeanexplanation."
这些细弱的麦穗竟将那七枝美丽的麦穗吞了。我讲给了术士们听,但没有人能给我解说。"
25JosephsaidtoPharaoh:"BothofPharaoh'sdreamshavethesamemeaning.GodhasthusforetoldtoPharaohwhatheisabouttodo.
若瑟遂对法郎说:"陛下的梦只是一个。天主已将所要作的告诉陛下:
26Thesevenhealthycowsaresevenyears,andthesevenhealthyearsaresevenyears——thesameineachdream.
七只美好的母牛表示七年,七枝美好的麦穗也表示七年。这原是一个梦。
27Soalso,theseventhin,uglycowsthatcameupafterthemaresevenyears,asaretheseventhin,wind-blastedears;theyaresevenyearsoffamine.
随后上来的那七只又瘦又丑的母牛,和那七枝空虚而又被东风吹焦了的麦穗,都表示七年,表示将有七个荒年。
28ItisjustasItoldPharaoh:GodhasrevealedtoPharaohwhatheisabouttodo.
这即是我对陛下所说:天主已将他要作的显示给陛下了。
29SevenyearsofgreatabundancearenowcomingthroughoutthelandofEgypt;
看埃及全国将有七年大丰收。
30butthesewillbefollowedbysevenyearsoffamine,whenalltheabundanceinthelandofEgyptwillbeforgotten.Whenthefaminehasravagedtheland,
继之而来的是七个荒年,那时人都忘记了埃及国曾有过丰收。当饥荒蹂躏此地时,
31notraceoftheabundancewillbefoundinthelandbecauseofthefaminethatfollowsit——soutterlyseverewillthatfaminebe.
谁也觉不到此地曾有过丰收,因为相继而来的饥荒实在太严重了。
32ThatPharaohhadthesamedreamtwicemeansthatthematterhasbeenreaffirmedbyGodandthatGodwillsoonbringitabout.
至于陛下的梦重复了两次,是表示这事已由天主命定,天主就快要实行。
33"Therefore,letPharaohseekoutawiseanddiscerningmanandputhiminchargeofthelandofEgypt.
所以陛下现在应当寻找一个聪明,有智能的人,派他管理埃及国。
34Pharaohshouldalsotakeactiontoappointoverseers,soastoregimentthelandduringthesevenyearsofabundance.
陛下应设法在地方上派定督办,在七个丰年内,征收埃及国所出产的五分之一;
35Theyshouldhusbandallthefoodofthecominggoodyears,collectingthegrainunderPharaoh'sauthority,tobestoredinthetownsforfood.
使他们将未来丰年内的一切食粮,聚敛起来,将五谷都储藏在陛下手下,贮在城内备作食粮,妥为保管。
36ThisfoodwillserveasareserveforthecountryagainstthesevenyearsoffaminethataretofollowinthelandofEgypt,sothatthelandmaynotperishinthefamine."
这些食粮应作为本地的存粮,以应付那在埃及国要出现的七个荒年,免得全国因饥荒而灭亡。
37ThisadvicepleasedPharaohandallhisofficials.
这番话使法郎和他的群臣十分赞成,
38"Couldwefindanotherlikehim,"Pharaohaskedhisofficials,"amansoendowedwiththespiritofGod?"
于是法郎对他的臣仆说:"像他这样的人,有天主的神住在他内,我们岂能找着另一个?"
39SoPharaohsaidtoJoseph:"SinceGodhasmadeallthisknowntoyou,noonecanbeaswiseanddiscerningasyouare.
法郎遂对若瑟说:"天主既使你知道这一切,就再没有像你这样聪敏富有智能的人了。
40Youshallbeinchargeofmypalace,andallmypeopleshalldartatyourcommand.OnlyinrespecttothethroneshallIoutrankyou.
你要掌管我的朝廷,我的人民都要听从你的号令;只在宝座上我比你大。"
41Herewith,"PharaohtoldJoseph,"IplaceyouinchargeofthewholelandofEgypt."
法郎又对若瑟说:"看,我立你统治全埃及国。"
421Withthat,PharaohtookoffhissignetringandputitonJoseph'sfinger.Hehadhimdressedinrobesoffinelinenandputagoldchainabouthisneck.
遂由自己手上取下打印的戒指,戴在若瑟手上,给他穿上细麻长袍,将金链戴在他的颈项上;
432Hethenhadhimrideinthechariotofhisvizier,andtheyshouted"Abrek!"beforehim.ThuswasJosephinstalledoverthewholelandofEgypt.
又使他坐在自己的第二部御车上,人们在他前面喊说:"跪下!"法郎就这样立他管理全埃及国。
44"I,Pharaoh,proclaim,"hetoldJoseph,"thatwithoutyourapprovalnooneshallmovehandorfootinallthelandofEgypt."
法郎又对若瑟说:"我是法郎,没有你的同意,全埃及国,任何人不得做任何事。"
453PharaohalsobestowedthenameofZaphnath-paneahonJoseph,andhegavehiminmarriageAsenath,thedaughterofPotiphera,priestofHeliopolis.
法郎给若瑟起名叫匝斐纳特帕乃亚,又将翁城的司祭颇提斐辣的女儿阿斯纳特给他为妻。若瑟便出去巡行埃及全国。
46JosephwasthirtyyearsoldwhenheenteredtheserviceofPharaoh,kingofEgypt.AfterJosephleftPharaoh'spresence,hetraveledthroughoutthelandofEgypt.
若瑟立于埃及王法郎前时,年三十岁。他由法郎面前出去巡行了埃及全国。
47Duringthesevenyearsofplenty,whenthelandproducedabundantcrops,
七个丰年内,土地出产极其丰富。
48hehusbandedallthefoodoftheseyearsofplentythatthelandofEgyptwasenjoyingandstoreditinthetowns,placingineachtownthecropsofthefieldsaroundit.
若瑟聚敛了埃及国七个丰年内所有的粮食,积蓄在城内;每城城郊田间所出的粮食,也都储藏在本城内。
49Josephgarneredgraininquantitieslikethesandsofthesea,sovastthatatlasthestoppedmeasuringit,foritwasbeyondmeasure.
这样若瑟聚敛了大量的五谷,多得有如海沙,无法计算,无法胜数。
50Beforethefamineyearssetin,Josephbecamethefatheroftwosons,bornetohimbyAsenath,daughterofPotiphera,priestofHeliopolis.
在荒年未来以前,若瑟已有了两个儿子,是翁城的司祭颇提斐辣的女儿阿斯纳特给他生的。
514Henamedhisfirst-bornManasseh,meaning,"GodhasmademeforgetentirelythesufferingsIenduredatthehandsofmyfamily";
若瑟给长子起名叫默纳协,说:"天主使我忘尽了我的一切困苦和我父的全家。
525andthesecondhenamedEphraim,meaning,"Godhasmademefruitfulinthelandofmyaffliction."
给次子起名叫厄弗辣因,说:"天主使我在我受苦的地方有了子息。"
53WhenthesevenyearsofabundanceenjoyedbythelandofEgyptcametoanend,
埃及国的七个丰年一过,
54thesevenyearsoffaminesetin,justasJosephhadpredicted.Althoughtherewasfamineinalltheothercountries,foodwasavailablethroughoutthelandofEgypt.
七个荒年随着就来了,恰如若瑟所预言的;各地都发生了饥荒,唯独全埃及国还有食粮。
55WhenhungercametobefeltthroughoutthelandofEgyptandthepeoplecriedtoPharaohforbread,PharaohdirectedalltheEgyptianstogotoJosephanddowhateverhetoldthem.
及至埃及全国闹饥荒时,人民便向法郎呼求粮食;法郎对埃及民众说:"你们到若瑟那里去,照他对你们所说的做。"
56Whenthefaminehadspreadthroughouttheland,JosephopenedallthecitiesthathadgrainandrationedittotheEgyptians,sincethefaminehadgrippedthelandofEgypt.
当时饥荒弥漫天下,若瑟便开了国内所有的粮仓,将粮食卖给埃及人,因为埃及的饥荒很严重。
57Infact,alltheworldcametoJosephtoobtainrationsofgrain,forfaminehadgrippedthewholeworld.
天下的人都来到埃及,向若瑟购买食粮,因为天下各地都大闹饥荒。
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Footnotes(注解)
1[42]Signetring:afingerringinwhichwassetastampseal,differentfromthecylindersealsuchasJudahwore;seenoteonGenesis38:18.Thisisanauthenticdetail.ByreceivingPharaoh'ssignetring,JosephwasmadevizierofEgypt(Genesis41:43);thevizierwasknownas"seal-bearerofthekingofLowerEgypt."Anotherauthenticdetailisthegoldchain,asymbolofhighofficeinancientEgypt.
2[43]Abrek:apparentlyacryofhomage,thoughtheword'sderivationandactualmeaningareuncertain.
3[45]Zaphenath-paneah:aHebrewtranscriptionofanEgyptiannamemeaning"thegodspeaksandhe(thenew-bornchild)lives."Asenath:means"belongingto(theEgyptiangoddess)Neith."Potiphera:means"hewhomRa(theEgyptiangod)gave";ashorterformofthesamenamewasbornebyJoseph'smaster(Genesis37:36).Heliopolis:inHebrew,On,acitysevenmilesnortheastofmodernCairo,siteofthechieftempleofthesungod;itismentionedalsoinGenesis41:50;46:20;Ezekiel30:17.
4[51]Manasseh:allusiontothisnameisintheHebrewexpression,nishshani,"hemademeforget."
5[52]Ephraim:relatedtotheHebrewexpressionhiphrani,"(God)hasmademefruitful."