今日讀經

約瑟被召到法老面前

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。So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.

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。」Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

¹⁶約瑟回答法老說：「這不在乎我，　神必將平安的話回答法老。」“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

¹⁷法老對約瑟說：「我夢見我站在河邊，Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

¹⁸有七隻母牛從河裡上來，又肥壯又美好，在蘆荻中吃草。when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

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。After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!

²⁰這又乾瘦又醜陋的母牛吃盡了那以先的七隻肥母牛，Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.

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。When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke.

²²我又夢見一棵麥子，長了七個穗子，又飽滿又佳美，In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.

²³隨後又長了七個穗子，枯槁細弱，被東風吹焦了。After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.

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。」And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”

七個豐年、七個荒年

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。At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

²⁶七隻好母牛是七年，七個好穗子也是七年；這夢乃是一個。The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.

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。Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine.

²⁸這就是我對法老所說，　神已將所要做的事顯明給法老了。It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

²⁹埃及遍地必來七個大豐年，Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,

³⁰隨後又要來七個荒年，甚至在埃及地都忘了先前的豐收，全地必被饑荒所滅。but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land.

³¹因那以後的饑荒甚大，便不覺得先前的豐收了。The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

³²至於法老兩回做夢，是因　神命定這事，而且必速速成就。Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.

約瑟建議趁豐年儲糧

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。Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.

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，Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

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。Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities.

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。」This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

法老立約瑟治理埃及

³⁷法老和他一切臣僕都以這事為妙。This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.

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？」So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”

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。Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

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。」You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

⁴¹法老又對約瑟說：「我派你治理埃及全地。」Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”

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，Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.

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。He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

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（原文是動手動腳）。」And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”

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。Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.

豐年積蓄五穀

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。Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.

⁴⁷七個豐年之內，地的出產極豐極盛（原文是一把一把的），During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.

⁴⁸約瑟聚斂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。During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it.

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。So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.

瑪拿西和以法蓮出生

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。Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

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。」Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”

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。」And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

七個荒年來到

⁵³埃及地的七個豐年一完，When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,

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。the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt.

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。」When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”

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。When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt.

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。And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

十個哥哥下埃及糴糧

¹雅各見埃及有糧，就對兒子們說：「你們為甚麼彼此觀望呢？When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

²我聽見埃及有糧，你們可以下去，從那裡為我們糴些來，使我們可以存活，不至於死。」“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

³於是，約瑟的十個哥哥都下埃及糴糧去了。So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

⁴但約瑟的兄弟便雅憫，雅各沒有打發他和哥哥們同去，因為雅各說：「恐怕他遭害。」But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm might befall him.”

⁵來糴糧的人中有以色列的兒子們，因為迦南地也有饑荒。So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan.

約瑟認出哥哥們

⁶當時治理埃及地的是約瑟；糶糧給那地眾民的就是他。約瑟的哥哥們來了，臉伏於地，向他下拜。Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

⁷約瑟看見他哥哥們，就認得他們，卻裝作生人，向他們說些嚴厲話，問他們說：「你們從哪裡來？」他們說：「我們從迦南地來糴糧。」And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”

⁸約瑟認得他哥哥們，他們卻不認得他。Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

⁹約瑟想起從前所做的那兩個夢，就對他們說：「你們是奸細，來窺探這地的虛實。」Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

¹⁰他們對他說：「我主啊，不是的。僕人們是糴糧來的。“Not so, my lord,” they replied. “Your servants have come to buy food.

¹¹我們都是一個人的兒子，是誠實人；僕人們並不是奸細。」We are all sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

¹²約瑟說：「不然，你們必是窺探這地的虛實來的。」“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”

¹³他們說：「僕人們本是弟兄十二人，是迦南地一個人的兒子，頂小的現今在我們的父親那裡，有一個沒有了。」But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

¹⁴約瑟說：「我才說你們是奸細，這話實在不錯。Then Joseph declared, “Just as I said, you are spies!

¹⁵我指著法老的性命起誓，若是你們的小兄弟不到這裡來，你們就不得出這地方，從此就可以把你們證驗出來了。And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

¹⁶須要打發你們中間一個人去，把你們的兄弟帶來。至於你們，都要囚在這裡，好證驗你們的話真不真，若不真，我指著法老的性命起誓，你們一定是奸細。」Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

¹⁷於是約瑟把他們都下在監裡三天。So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,

要他們帶小兄弟來

¹⁸到第三天，約瑟對他們說：「我是敬畏　神的；你們照我的話行就可以存活。and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:

¹⁹你們如果是誠實人，可以留你們中間的一個人囚在監裡，但你們可以帶著糧食回去，救你們家裡的饑荒。If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.

²⁰把你們的小兄弟帶到我這裡來，如此，你們的話便有證據，你們也不至於死。」他們就照樣而行。Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.

哥哥們承認有罪；西緬被扣留

²¹他們彼此說：「我們在兄弟身上實在有罪。他哀求我們的時候，我們見他心裡的愁苦，卻不肯聽，所以這場苦難臨到我們身上。」Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

²²流便說：「我豈不是對你們說過，不可傷害那孩子嗎？只是你們不肯聽，所以流他血的罪向我們追討。」And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

²³他們不知道約瑟聽得出來，因為在他們中間用通事傳話。They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

²⁴約瑟轉身退去，哭了一場，又回來對他們說話，就從他們中間挑出西緬來，在他們眼前把他捆綁。And he turned away from them and wept. When he turned back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes.

銀子歸還在口袋裡

²⁵約瑟吩咐人把糧食裝滿他們的器具，把各人的銀子歸還在各人的口袋裡，又給他們路上用的食物，人就照他的話辦了。Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out,

²⁶他們就把糧食馱在驢上，離開那裡去了。and they loaded the grain on their donkeys and departed.

²⁷到了住宿的地方，他們中間有一個人打開口袋，要拿料餵驢，才看見自己的銀子仍在口袋裡，At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack.

²⁸就對弟兄們說：「我的銀子歸還了，看哪，仍在我口袋裡！」他們就提心吊膽，戰戰兢兢地彼此說：「這是　神向我們做甚麼呢？」“My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.” Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

回去告訴父親

²⁹他們來到迦南地、他們的父親雅各那裡，將所遭遇的事都告訴他，說：When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they described to him all that had happened to them:

³⁰「那地的主對我們說嚴厲的話，把我們當作窺探那地的奸細。“The man who is lord of the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.

³¹我們對他說：『我們是誠實人，並不是奸細。But we told him, ‘We are honest men, not spies.

³²我們本是弟兄十二人，都是一個父親的兒子，有一個沒有了，頂小的如今同我們的父親在迦南地。』We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’

³³那地的主對我們說：『若要我知道你們是誠實人，可以留下你們中間的一個人在我這裡，你們可以帶著糧食回去，救你們家裡的饑荒。Then the man who is lord of the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

³⁴把你們的小兄弟帶到我這裡來，我便知道你們不是奸細，乃是誠實人。這樣，我就把你們的弟兄交給你們，你們也可以在這地做買賣。』」But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”

³⁵後來他們倒口袋，不料，各人的銀包都在口袋裡；他們和父親看見銀包就都害怕。As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! And when they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were dismayed.

雅各不肯讓便雅憫去

³⁶他們的父親雅各對他們說：「你們使我喪失我的兒子：「約瑟沒有了，西緬也沒有了，你們又要將便雅憫帶去；這些事都歸到我身上了。」Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”

³⁷流便對他父親說：「我若不帶他回來交給你，你可以殺我的兩個兒子。只管把他交在我手裡，我必帶他回來交給你。」Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”

³⁸雅各說：「我的兒子不可與你們一同下去；他哥哥死了，只剩下他，他若在你們所行的路上遭害，那便是你們使我白髮蒼蒼、悲悲慘慘地下陰間去了。」But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

芥菜種的比喻

³¹他又設個比喻對他們說：「天國好像一粒芥菜種，有人拿去種在田裡。He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field.

³²這原是百種裡最小的，等到長起來，卻比各樣的菜都大，且成了樹，天上的飛鳥來宿在它的枝上。」Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

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麵酵的比喻

³³他又對他們講個比喻說：「天國好像麵酵，有婦人拿來，藏在三斗麵裡，直等全團都發起來。」He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

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用比喻應驗先知的話

³⁴這都是耶穌用比喻對眾人說的話；若不用比喻，就不對他們說甚麼。Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable.

³⁵這是要應驗先知的話，說：我要開口用比喻，把創世以來所隱藏的事發明出來。So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”

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解釋稗子的比喻

³⁶當下，耶穌離開眾人，進了房子。他的門徒進前來，說：「請把田間稗子的比喻講給我們聽。」Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷他回答說：「那撒好種的就是人子；He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

³⁸田地就是世界；好種就是天國之子；稗子就是那惡者之子；The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

³⁹撒稗子的仇敵就是魔鬼；收割的時候就是世界的末了；收割的人就是天使。and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

⁴⁰將稗子薅出來用火焚燒，世界的末了也要如此。As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

⁴¹人子要差遣使者，把一切叫人跌倒的和作惡的，從他國裡挑出來，The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.

⁴²丟在火爐裡；在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁴³那時，義人在他們父的國裡，要發出光來，像太陽一樣。有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

藏寶的比喻

⁴⁴「天國好像寶貝藏在地裡，人遇見了就把它藏起來，歡歡喜喜地去變賣一切所有的，買這塊地。The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

珠子的比喻

⁴⁵天國又好像買賣人尋找好珠子，Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.

⁴⁶遇見一顆重價的珠子，就去變賣他一切所有的，買了這顆珠子。When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.

撒網的比喻

⁴⁷天國又好像網撒在海裡，聚攏各樣水族，Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.

⁴⁸網既滿了，人就拉上岸來，坐下，揀好的收在器具裡，將不好的丟棄了。When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.

⁴⁹世界的末了也要這樣。天使要出來，從義人中把惡人分別出來，So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous

⁵⁰丟在火爐裡；在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。」and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

新舊的東西

⁵¹耶穌說：「這一切的話你們都明白了嗎？」他們說：「我們明白了。」Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.

⁵²他說：「凡文士受教作天國的門徒，就像一個家主從他庫裡拿出新舊的東西來。」Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”