Ndoto Za Farao
141:1 Kut 2:5Baada ya miaka miwili kamili kupita, Farao aliota ndoto: Tazama alikuwa amesimama kando ya Mto Naili, 241:2 Ay 40:21wakati ngʼombe saba, wazuri na wanono, walitokea mtoni wakajilisha kwenye matete. 3Baada yao ngʼombe wengine saba, wabaya na waliokonda, wakatokea mtoni Naili wakasimama kando ya wale wanono ukingoni mwa mto. 441:4 Mwa 41:7Wale ngʼombe wabaya na waliokonda wakawala wale saba wazuri na wanono. Kisha Farao akaamka.
5Farao akaingia usingizini tena akaota ndoto ya pili: Akaona masuke saba ya nafaka, yenye afya na mazuri, yanakua katika bua moja. 641:6 Za 11:6Baadaye, masuke mengine saba yakachipua, yakiwa membamba yaliyonyaushwa na upepo wa mashariki. 741:7 Mwa 41:4Masuke yale membamba yakameza yale masuke saba yenye afya na yaliyojaa. Basi Farao akaamka kutoka usingizini, kumbe ilikuwa ndoto.
841:8 Kut 7:11, 22; Dan 4:18Asubuhi yake, alifadhaika akilini, hivyo akawaita waaguzi wote pamoja na watu wenye busara wa Misri. Walipokuja, Farao akawaeleza ndoto zake, lakini hakuna hata mmoja aliyeweza kumfasiria.
9Ndipo mnyweshaji mkuu alipomwambia Farao, “Leo nimekumbushwa kuhusu kosa langu. 1041:10 Mwa 40:2Wakati fulani Farao aliwakasirikia watumishi wake, akanifunga mimi na mwokaji mkuu katika nyumba ya mkuu wa ulinzi. 1141:11 Mwa 40:5Kila mmoja wetu aliota ndoto katika usiku mmoja na kila ndoto ilikuwa na maana yake tofauti. 1241:12 Mwa 40:12Basi kijana wa Kiebrania aliyekuwa pamoja nasi huko, alikuwa mtumishi wa mkuu wa kikosi cha ulinzi. Tulimweleza ndoto zetu, naye akatufasiria, akitupa kila mtu tafsiri ya ndoto yake. 1341:13 Mwa 40:22Nayo mambo yakawa sawa kabisa na jinsi alivyotufasiria ndoto zetu: Mimi nilirudishwa kazini mwangu na huyo mtu mwingine akaangikwa.”
1441:14 Za 105:20; Rut 3:3Basi, Farao akatuma Yosefu aitwe, naye akatolewa kifungoni haraka. Baada ya kunyoa na kubadilisha nguo zake akaenda mbele ya Farao.
1541:15 Dan 5:16Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Nimeota ndoto, wala hakuna mtu hata mmoja anayeweza kuifasiri. Lakini nimesikia ikisemwa kwa habari yako kwamba unapoelezwa ndoto waweza kuifasiri.”
1641:16 Mwa 40:8Yosefu akamjibu Farao, “Siwezi kuifasiri, lakini Mungu atampa Farao jibu analolihitaji.”
17Kisha Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Katika ndoto yangu nilikuwa nimesimama ukingoni mwa Mto Naili, 18nikawaona ngʼombe saba, wazuri na wanono, wakijitokeza kutoka mtoni wakaja kujilisha kwenye matete. 19Baada ya hao, ngʼombe wengine saba wadhaifu wakatokea, wabaya sana na waliokonda. Kamwe sikuwahi kuona ngʼombe wabaya jinsi hiyo katika nchi yote ya Misri. 20Hao ngʼombe waliokonda na wabaya sana wakawala wale ngʼombe saba walionona waliojitokeza kwanza. 21Lakini hata baada ya kuwala, hakuna mtu ambaye angeweza kusema kwamba wamekula, bado walionekana wabaya kama mwanzoni. Kisha nikaamka kutoka usingizini.
22“Pia katika ndoto zangu niliona masuke saba ya nafaka, yamejaa na mazuri, yanakua katika bua moja. 23Baada ya hayo masuke mengine saba yakachipua, yaliyonyauka, membamba na yamekaushwa na upepo wa mashariki. 24Yale masuke membamba ya nafaka yakayameza yale masuke saba mazuri yaliyojaa nafaka. Nimewaeleza waaguzi, wala hakuna yeyote aliyeweza kunifasiria.”
2541:25 Dan 2:45Ndipo Yosefu akamwambia Farao, “Ndoto za Farao ni ndoto iyo hiyo moja. Mungu amemfunulia Farao jambo analokusudia kufanya karibuni. 26Ngʼombe saba wazuri ni miaka saba, nayo masuke saba mazuri yaliyojaa nafaka ni miaka saba, ni ndoto iyo hiyo moja. 27Ngʼombe saba waliokonda na wabaya wale waliojitokeza baadaye ni miaka saba, vivyo hivyo masuke saba ya ngano yaliyodhoofika na kukaushwa na upepo wa mashariki, ni miaka saba ya njaa.
28“Ni kama vile nilivyomwambia Farao: Mungu amemwonyesha Farao jambo analokusudia kufanya karibuni. 2941:29 Mwa 41:47Miaka saba ya neema inakuja katika nchi yote ya Misri, 3041:30 Mwa 41:54; 47:13lakini itafuata miaka saba ya njaa. Ndipo neema yote ya Misri itasahaulika na njaa itaikumba nchi.
31“Neema iliyokuwa katika nchi haitakumbukwa, kwa sababu njaa itakayofuata itakuwa kali mno. 32Sababu ya ndoto kumjia Farao kwa namna mbili ni kwamba jambo hilo Mungu ameshaamua kwa hakika, naye Mungu atalifanya karibuni.
3341:33 Mwa 41:39“Basi sasa Farao na atafute mtu mwenye akili na hekima ili amweke kuwa msimamizi wa nchi ya Misri. 3441:34 Es 2:3Farao na aweke wenye amri nchini kote wakusanye sehemu ya tano ya mavuno ya Misri katika miaka hii saba ya neema. 3541:35 Mwa 41:48Wakusanye chakula chote katika miaka hii saba ya neema inayokuja na kuhifadhi nafaka chini ya mamlaka ya Farao, iwe akiba ya chakula katika miji. 36Chakula hiki kitakuwa akiba ya tahadhari kwa ajili ya nchi, ili kitumike katika ile miaka saba ya njaa itakayokuja Misri, ili nchi isiharibiwe na njaa.”
37Mpango huu ulionekana mzuri kwa Farao na kwa maafisa wake wote. 3841:38 Hes 27:18; Dan 4:8-9, 18; 5:11, 14Hivyo Farao akawauliza, “Je tunaweza kumpata yeyote kama mtu huyu, ambaye Roho wa Mungu yumo ndani yake?”
39Ndipo Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Maadamu Mungu amekufunulia yote haya, hakuna mwingine yeyote mwenye akili na hekima kama wewe. 4041:40 Za 105:21-22; Mdo 7:10Wewe utakuwa msimamizi wa jumba langu la kifalme, na watu wangu wote watatii amri zako. Ni kuhusu kiti cha ufalme tu nitakuwa mkuu kuliko wewe.”
Yosefu Msimamizi Wa Misri
4141:41 Mwa 42:6Kwa hiyo Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Sasa nakuweka uwe msimamizi wa nchi yote ya Misri.” 4241:42 Es 3:10; Dan 5:29Ndipo Farao akaivua pete yake ya muhuri kutoka kidoleni mwake na kuivalisha katika kidole cha Yosefu. Akamvika majoho mazuri ya kitani safi na mkufu wa dhahabu shingoni mwake. 4341:43 Isa 2:7Akampandisha katika gari lake la farasi kama msaidizi wake, watu wakatangulia wakishangilia, wakisema, “Fungueni njia!” Ndivyo Farao alivyomweka Yosefu kuwa msimamizi wa nchi yote ya Misri.
44Kisha Farao akamwambia Yosefu, “Mimi ni Farao, lakini pasipo neno lako, hakuna mtu mwenye ruhusa kuinua mkono au mguu katika nchi yote ya Misri.” 4541:45 Es 2:7Farao akamwita Yosefu Safenath-Panea, pia akampa Asenathi binti Potifera, kuhani wa mji wa Oni,41:45 Yaani Heliopoli (Mji wa Jua). kuwa mke wake. Ndipo Yosefu akaitembelea nchi yote ya Misri.
4641:46 Mit 22:29Yosefu alikuwa na miaka thelathini alipoingia katika utumishi wa Farao mfalme wa Misri. Naye Yosefu akatoka mbele ya Farao akasafiri katika nchi yote ya Misri. 4741:47 Mwa 41:29Katika ile miaka saba ya neema nchi ilizaa mazao kwa wingi sana. 4841:48 Mwa 41:34Yosefu akakusanya chakula chote kilichozalishwa katika ile miaka saba ya neema nchini Misri, akakihifadhi katika ghala za miji. Katika kila mji kulihifadhiwa chakula kilichozalishwa katika mashamba yaliyouzunguka mji huo. 4941:49 Mwa 12:2Yosefu alihifadhi nafaka nyingi, mfano wa mchanga wa bahari, ilikuwa nyingi mno kiasi kwamba walishindwa kuweka kumbukumbu kwa sababu akiba ilizidi sana kupita kipimo.
50Kabla ya miaka ya njaa kuanza, Asenathi binti Potifera, kuhani wa mji wa Oni, alikuwa amemzalia Yosefu wana wawili wa kiume. 5141:51 Hes 1:34Yosefu akamwita mzaliwa wake wa kwanza Manase, akisema, “Ni kwa sababu Mungu amenifanya nisahau taabu zangu zote pamoja na jamaa yote ya nyumba ya baba yangu.” 5241:52 Mwa 17:6Mwana wa pili akamwita Efraimu, akisema, “Ni kwa sababu Mungu amenistawisha katika nchi ya mateso yangu.”
53Ile miaka saba ya neema huko Misri ikaisha, 5441:54 Mdo 7:11nayo miaka ile saba ya njaa ikaanza, sawasawa na alivyosema Yosefu. Kulikuwa na njaa katika nchi nyingine zote, bali katika nchi yote ya Misri kulikuwa na chakula. 55Wakati nchi yote ya Misri ilipopatwa na njaa, watu wakamlilia Farao ili awape chakula. Ndipo Farao alipowaagiza Wamisri wote, akisema, “Nendeni kwa Yosefu, nanyi mfanye anachowaambia.”
56Wakati njaa ilipokuwa imeenea katika nchi yote, Yosefu akafungua ghala za vyakula na kuwauzia Wamisri nafaka, kwa sababu njaa ilikuwa kali mno katika nchi yote ya Misri. 57Pia nchi nyingine zote zilikuja Misri kununua nafaka kutoka kwa Yosefu, kwa sababu njaa ilikuwa kali mno duniani kote.
Pharaoh’s dreams
1When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5He fell asleep again and had a second dream: seven ears of corn, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6After them, seven other ears of corn sprouted – thin and scorched by the east wind. 7The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven healthy, full ears. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no-one could interpret them for him.
9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, ‘Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.’
14So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15Pharaoh 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‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’
17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19After them, seven other cows came up – scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21But even after they ate them, no-one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22‘In my dream I saw seven ears of corn, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23After them, seven other ears sprouted – withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven good ears. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.’
25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterwards are seven years, and so are the seven worthless ears of corn scorched by the east wind: they are seven years of famine.
28‘It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33‘And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.’
37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God41:38 Or of the gods?’
39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’
Joseph in charge of Egypt
41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ 42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain round his neck. 43He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot and people shouted before him, ‘Make way41:43 Or Bow down!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, but without your word no-one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.’ 45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50 to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and travelled throughout Egypt. 47During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget. and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’ 52The second son he named Ephraim41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful. and said, ‘It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’
53The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.’
56When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.
