Chapter 40
[1] And it came to pass after these things, that the chief cupbearer of the king of Egypt and the chief baker trespassed against their lord the king of Egypt. [2] And Pharao was wroth with his two eunuchs, with his chief cupbearer, and with his chief baker. [3] And he put them in ward, into the prison, into the place whereinto Joseph had been led. [4] And the chief keeper of the prison committed them to Joseph, and he stood by them; and they were some days in the prison. [5] And they both had a dream in one night; and the vision of the dream of the chief cupbearer and chief baker, who belonged to the king of Egypt, who were in the prison, was this. [6] Joseph went in to them in the morning, and saw them, and they had been troubled. [7] And he asked the eunuchs of Pharao who were with him in the prison with his master, saying, Why is it that your countenances are sad to-day? [8] And they said to him, We have seen a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Is not the interpretation of them through god? tell them than to me. [9] And the chief cupbearer related his dream to Joseph, and said, In my dream a vine was before me. [10] And in the vine were three stems; and it budding shot forth blossoms; the clusters of grapes were ripe. [11] And the cup of Pharao was in my hand; and I took the bunch of grapes, and squeezed it into the cup, and gave the cup into Pharao’s hand. [12] And Joseph said to him, This is the interpretation of it. The three stems are three days. [13] Yet three days and Pharao shall remember thy office, and he shall restore thee to thy place of chief cupbearer, and thou shalt give the cup of Pharao into his hand, according to thy former high place, as thou wast wont to be cupbearer. [14] But remember me of thyself, when it shall be well with thee, and thou shalt deal mercifully with me, and thou shalt make mention of me to Pharao, and thou shalt bring me forth out of this dungeon. [15] For surely I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here I have done nothing, but they have cast me into this pit. [16] And the chief baker saw that he interpreted aright; and he said to Joseph, I also saw a dream, and methought I took up on my head three baskets of mealy food. [17] And in the upper basket there was the work of the baker of every kind which Pharao eats; and the fowls of the air ate them out of the basket that was on my head. [18] And Joseph answered and said to him, This is the interpretation of it; The three baskets are three days. [19] Yet three days, and Pharao shall take away thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds of the sky shall eat thy flesh from off thee. [20] And it came to pass on the third day that it was Pharao’s birth-day, and he made a banquet for all his servants, and he remembered the office of the cupbearer and the office of the baker in the midst of his servants. [21] And he restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he gave the cup into Pharao’s hand. [22] And he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph, interpreted to them. [23] Yet did not the chief cupbearer remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Chapter 41
[1] And it came to pass after two full years that Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood upon the bank of the river. [2] And lo, there came up as it were out of the river seven cows, fair in appearance, and choice of flesh, and they fed on the sedge. [3] And other seven cows came up after these out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, and fed by the other cows on the bank of the river. [4] And the seven ill-favoured and lean cows devoured the seven well-favoured and choice-fleshed cows; and Pharao awoke. [5] And he dreamed again. And, behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, choice and good. [6] And, behold, seven ears thin and blasted with the wind, grew up after them. [7] And the seven thin ears and blasted with the wind devoured the seven choice and full ears; and Pharao awoke, and it was a dream. [8] And it was morning, and his soul was troubled; and he sent and called all the interpreters of Egypt, and all her wise men; and Pharao related to them his dream, and there was no one to interpret it to Pharao. [9] And the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharao, saying, I this day remember my fault: [10] Pharao was angry with his servants, and put us in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker. [11] And we had a dream both in one night, I and he; we saw, each according to his dream. [12] And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard; and we related to him our dreams, and he interpreted them to us. [13] And it came to pass, as he interpreted them to us, so also it happened, both that I was restored to my office, and that he was hanged. [14] And Pharao having sent, called Joseph; and they brought him out from the prison, and shaved him, and changed his dress, and he came to Pharao. [15] And Pharao said to Joseph, I have seen a vision, and there is no one to interpret it; but I have heard say concerning thee that thou didst hear dreams and interpret them. [16] And Joseph answered Pharao and said, Without God an answer of safety shall not be given to Pharao. [17] And Pharao spoke to Joseph, saying, In my dream methought I stood by the bank of the river; [18] and there came up as it were out of the river, seven cows well-favoured and choice-fleshed, and they fed on the sedge. [19] And behold seven other cows came up after them out of the river, evil and ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, such that I never saw worse in all the land of Egypt. [20] And the seven ill-favoured and thin cows ate up the seven first good and choice cows. [21] And they went into their bellies; and it was not perceptible that they had gone into their bellies, and their appearance was ill-favoured, as also at the beginning; and after I awoke I slept, [22] and saw again in my sleep, and as it were seven ears came up on one stem, full and good. [23] And other seven ears, thin and blasted with the wind, sprang up close to them. [24] And the seven thin and blasted ears devoured the seven fine and full ears: so I spoke to the interpreters, and there was no one to explain it to me.
[25] And Joseph said to Pharao, The dream of Pharao is one; whatever God does, he has shewn to Pharao. [26] The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream of Pharao is one. [27] And the seven thin kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven thin and blasted ears are seven years; there shall be seven years of famine. [28] And as for the word which I have told Pharao, whatsoever God intends to do, he has shewn to Pharao: [29] behold, for seven years there is coming great plenty in all the land of Egypt. [30] But there shall come seven years of famine after these, and they shall forget the plenty that shall be in all Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land. [31] And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine that shall be after this, for it shall be very grievous. [32] And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, it is because the saying which is from God shall be true, and God will hasten to accomplish it. [33] Now then, look out a wise and prudent man, and set him over the land of Egypt. [34] And let Pharao make and appoint local governors over the land; and let them take up a fifth part of all the produce of the land of Egypt for the seven years of the plenty. [35] And let them gather all the food of these seven good years that are coming, and let the corn be gathered under the hand of Pharao; let food be kept in the cities. [36] And the stored food shall be for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; and the land shall not be utterly destroyed by the famine. [37] And the word was pleasing in the sight of Pharao, and in the sight of all his servants.
[38] And Pharao said to all his servants, Shall we find such a man as this, who has the Spirit of God in him? [39] And Pharao said to Joseph, Since God has shewed thee all these things, there is not a wiser or more prudent man than thou. [40] Thou shalt be over my house, and all my people shall be obedient to thy word; only in the throne will I excel thee. [41] And Pharao said to Joseph, Behold, I set thee this day over all the land of Egypt. [42] And Pharao took his ring off his hand, and put it on the hand of Joseph, and put on him a robe of fine linen, and put a necklace of gold about his neck. [43] And he mounted him on the second of his chariots, and a herald made proclamation before him; and he set him over all the land of Egypt. [44] And Pharao said to Joseph, I am Pharao; without thee no one shall lift up his hand on all the land of Egypt. [45] And Pharao called the name of Joseph, Psonthomphanech; an
d he gave him Aseneth, the daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, to wife. [46] And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharao, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharao, and went through all the land of Egypt. [47] And the land produced, in the seven years of plenty, whole handfuls of corn. [48] And he gathered all the food of the seven years, in which was the plenty in the land of Egypt; and he laid up the food in the cities; the food of the fields of a city round about it he laid up in it. [49] And Joseph gathered very much corn as the sand of the sea, until it could not be numbered, for there was no number of it.
[50] And to Joseph were born two sons, before the seven years of famine came, which Aseneth, the daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, bore to him. [51] And Joseph called the name of the first-born, Manasse; for God, said he, has made me forget all my toils, and all my father’s house. [52] And he called the name of the second, Ephraim; for God, said he, has increased me in the land of my humiliation. [53] And the seven years of plenty passed away, which were in the land of Egypt. [54] And the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph said; and there was a famine in all the land; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. [55] And all the land of Egypt was hungry; and the people cried to Pharao for bread. And Pharao said to all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph, and do whatsoever he shall tell you. [56] And the famine was on the face of all the earth; and Joseph opened all the granaries, and sold to all the Egyptians. [57] And all countries came to Egypt to buy of Joseph, for the famine prevailed in all the earth.
Chapter 42
[1] And Jacob having seen that there was a sale of corn in Egypt, said to his sons, Why are ye indolent? [2] Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt; go down thither, and buy for us a little food, that we may live, and not die.
[3] And the ten brethren of Joseph went down to buy corn out of Egypt. [4] But Jacob sent not Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, with his brethren; for he said, Lest, haply, disease befall him. [5] And the sons of Israel came to buy with those that came, for the famine was in the land of Chanaan. [6] And Joseph was ruler of the land; he sold to all the people of the land. And the brethren of Joseph, having come, did reverence to him, bowing with the face to the ground. [7] And when Joseph saw his brethren, he knew them, and estranged himself from them, and spoke hard words to them; and said to them, Whence are ye come? And they said, Out of the land of Chanaan, to buy food. [8] And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. [9] And Joseph remembered his dream, which he saw; and he said to them, Ye are spies; to observe the marks of the land are ye come. [10] But they said, Nay, Sir, we thy servants are come to buy food; [11] we are all sons of one man; we are peaceable, thy servants are not spies. [12] And he said to them, Nay, but ye are come to observe the marks of the land. [13] And they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren, in the land of Chanaan; and, behold, the youngest is with our father to-day, but the other one is not. [14] And Joseph said to them, This is it that I spoke to you, saying, ye are spies; [15] herein shall ye be manifested; by the health of Pharao, ye shall not depart hence, unless your younger brother come hither. [16] Send one of you, and take your brother; and go ye to prison, till your words be clear, whether ye speak the truth or not; but, if not, by the health of Pharao, verily ye are spies. [17] And he put them in prison three days. [18] And he said to them on the third day, This do, and ye shall live, for I fear God. [19] If ye be peaceable, let one of your brethren be detained in prison; but go ye, and carry back the corn ye have purchased. [20] And bring your younger brother to me, and your words shall be believed; but, if not, ye shall die. And they did so. [21] And each said to his brother, Yes, indeed, for we are in fault concerning our brother, when we disregarded the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we hearkened not to him; and therefore has this affliction come upon us. [22] And Ruben answered them, saying, Did I not speak to you, saying, Hurt not the boy, and ye heard me not? and, behold, his blood is required. [23] But they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them. [24] And Joseph turned away from them, and wept; and again he came to them, and spoke to them; and he took Symeon from them, and bound him before their eyes.
[25] And Joseph gave orders to fill their vessels with corn, and to return their money to each into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and it was so done to them. [26] And having put the corn on the asses, they departed thence. [27] And one having opened his sack to give his asses fodder, at the place where they rested, saw also his bundle of money, for it was on the mouth of his sack. [28] And he said to his brethren, My money has been restored to me, and behold this is in my sack. And their heart was wonder-struck, and they were troubled, saying one to another, What is this that God has done to us? [29] And they came to their father, Jacob, into the land of Chanaan, and reported to him all that had happened to them, saying, [30] The man, the lord of the land, spoke harsh words to us, and put us in prison as spies of the land. [31] And we said to him, We are men of peace, we are not spies. [32] We are twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is with his father to-day in the land of Chanaan. [33] And the man, the lord of the land, said to us, Herein shall I know that ye are peaceable; leave one brother here with me, and having taken the corn ye have purchased for your family, depart. [34] And bring to me your younger brother; then I shall know that ye are not spies, but that ye are men of peace: and I will restore you your brother, and ye shall trade in the land. [35] And it came to pass as they were emptying their sacks, there was each man’s bundle of money in his sack; and they and their father saw their bundles of money, and they were afraid. [36] And their father Jacob said to them, Ye have bereaved me. Joseph is not, Symeon is not, and will ye take Benjamin? all these things have come upon me. [37] And Ruben spoke to his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; give him into my hand, and I will bring him back to thee. [38] But he said, My son shall not go down with you, because his brother is dead, and he only has been left; and suppose it shall come to pass that he is afflicted by the way by which ye go, then ye shall bring down my old age with sorrow to Hades.
Chapter 43
[1] But the famine prevailed in the land. [2] And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food. [3] And Judas spoke to him, saying, The man, the lord of the country, positively testified to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you. [4] If, then, thou send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy thee food; [5] but if thou send not our brother with us, we will not go: for the man spoke to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you. [6] And Israel said, Why did ye harm me, inasmuch as ye told the man that ye had a brother? [7] And they said, The man closely questioned us about our family also, saying, Does your father yet live, and have ye a brother? and we answered him according to this question: did we know that he would say to us, Bring your brother? [8] And Judas said to his father Israel, Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and thou, and our store. [9] And I engage for him; at my hand do thou require him; if I bring him not to thee, and place him before thee, I shall be guilty toward thee for ever. [10] For if we had not tarried, we should now have returned twice. [11] And Israel, their father, said to them, If it be so, do this; take of the fruits of the earth in your vessels, and carry down to the man presents of gum and honey, and frankincense, and stacte, and turpentine, and walnuts. [12] And take double money in your hands, and the money that was returned in your sacks, carry back with you, lest peradventure it is a mistake. [13] And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man. [14] And my God give you favour in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.
[15] And the men having taken these presents, and the double money, took in their hands also Benjamin; and they rose up and went down
to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. [16] And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and slay beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon. [17] And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph. [18] And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses. [19] And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house, [20] saying, We pray thee, Sir; we came down at first to buy food. [21] And it came to pass, when we came to unlade, and opened our sacks, there was also this money of each in his sack; we have now brought back our money by weight in our hands. [22] And we have brought other money with us to buy food; we know not who put the money into our sacks. [23] And he said to them, God deal mercifully with you; be not afraid; your God, and the God of your fathers, has given you treasures in your sacks, and I have enough of your good money. And he brought Symeon out to them. [24] And he brought water to wash their feet; and gave provender to their asses. [25] And they prepared their gifts, until Joseph came at noon, for they heard that he was going to dine there. [26] And Joseph entered into the house, and they brought him the gifts which they had in their hands, into the house; and they did him reverence with their face to the ground. [27] And he asked them, How are ye? and he said to them, Is your father, the old man of whom ye spoke, well? Does he yet live? [28] And they said, Thy servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And he said, Blessed be that man by God; — and they bowed, and did him reverence. [29] And Joseph lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said, Is this your younger brother, whom ye spoke of bringing to me? and he said, God have mercy on thee, my son. [30] And Joseph was troubled, for his bowels yearned over his brother, and he sought to weep; and he went into his chamber, and wept there.
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