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.
Maloto a Farao
1Patapita zaka ziwiri zathunthu, Farao analota atayimirira mʼmbali mwa mtsinje wa Nailo, 2ndipo anangoona ngʼombe zazikazi zisanu ndi ziwiri zooneka bwino ndi zonenepa zikutuluka mu mtsinje muja ndi kuyamba kudya msipu wa mu mawango. 3Kenaka ngʼombe zina zazikazi zisanu ndi ziwiri zosaoneka bwino ndi zowonda zinatulukanso mu mtsinje wa Nailo ndipo zinayimirira pambali pa zina zija zimene zinali mʼmphepete mwa mtsinje uja. 4Ndipo ngʼombe zosaoneka bwino ndi zowonda zija zinadya ngʼombe zonenepa zija. Kenaka Farao anadzidzimuka.
5Posakhalitsa anagonanso ndipo analota kachiwiri: Analota ngala zisanu ndi ziwiri za tirigu zathanzi labwino zitabala pa phata limodzi. 6Kenaka ngala zina zisanu ndi ziwiri zinaphuka. Izi zinali zowonda ndi zowauka ndi mphepo ya kummawa. 7Ngala zowonda zija zinameza ngala zathanzi ndi zonenepa zija. Farao anadzidzimuka ndipo anaona kuti anali maloto chabe.
8Mmawa, Farao anavutika mu mtima kotero anayitanitsa amatsenga ndi anzeru onse a mu Igupto. Iwo atabwera, iye anawawuza maloto ake, koma panalibe ndi mmodzi yemwe amene anatha kutanthauzira malotowo kwa Farao.
9Ndipo mkulu wa operekera zakumwa anati kwa Farao, “Lero ndakumbukira kulephera kwanga. 10Paja nthawi ina Farao anapsera mtima antchito akefe, ndipo anatitsekera (ine ndi mkulu wa ophika buledi) mʼndende, mʼnyumba ya mkulu wa alonda. 11Tsiku lina tonse awiri tinalota maloto, ndipo loto lililonse linali ndi tanthauzo lake. 12Tsono momwemo munali mnyamata wina Wachihebri, wantchito wa mkulu wa alonda. Ife tinamufotokozera maloto athu, ndipo anatitanthauzira malotowo. Munthu aliyense anamupatsa tanthauzo la loto lake. 13Ndipo zinthu zinachitikadi monga mmene anatitanthauzira. Ine anandibwezera pa ntchito yanga ndipo winayo anapachikidwa.”
14Choncho Farao anamuyitanitsa Yosefe, ndipo mofulumira anabwera naye kuchokera mʼdzenje muja. Ndipo atameta, ndi kusintha zovala, anapita kwa Farao.
15Farao anati kwa Yosefe, “Ndinalota maloto ndipo palibe amene watha kunditanthauzira. Tsono ndawuzidwa kuti iwe ukamva loto umadziwanso kulimasulira.”
16Yosefe anamuyankha Farao kuti, “Sindingathe koma Mulungu apereka yankho limene Farao akufuna.”
17Ndipo Farao anati kwa Yosefe, “Ndinalota nditayimirira mʼmphepete mwa mtsinje wa Nailo, 18ndipo ngʼombe zisanu ndi ziwiri zonenepa ndi zooneka bwino zinatuluka mu mtsinje muja ndi kumadya msipu wa mu mawango. 19Kenaka, ngʼombe zina zisanu ndi ziwiri zinatuluka. Izi zinali zosaoneka bwino ndiponso zowonda ndipo sindinaonepo ngʼombe zosaoneka bwino chonchi mʼdziko lonse la Igupto. 20Ngʼombe zosaoneka bwino ndi zowonda zija zinadya zisanu ndi ziwiri zonenepa zimene zinatuluka poyamba zija. 21Koma ngakhale ngʼombezi zinadya zinazo, palibe amene akanatha kuzindikira kuti zinatero popeza zinali zosaonekabe bwino monga poyamba. Ndipo ndinadzidzimuka.
22“Nditagonanso kachiwiri, ndinalota ngala zisanu ndi ziwiri za tirigu zathanzi ndi zonenepa zitabala pa phata limodzi. 23Kenaka panaphukanso ngala zina zisanu ndi ziwiri zofota, zowonda ndi zowauka ndi mphepo ya kummawa. 24Ngala zowondazo zinameza ngala zisanu ndi ziwiri zabwino zija. Ndinawawuza amatsenga koma palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe anatha kundimasulira.”
25Ndipo Yosefe anati kwa Farao, “Maloto awiriwa ndi ofanana ndipo ali ndi tanthauzo limodzi. Mulungu waululira Farao chimene atachite. 26Ngʼombe zisanu ndi ziwiri zabwinozo ndi zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri. Ndipo ngala zisanu ndi ziwiri zabwinozo ndi zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri. Kutanthauza kwa maloto nʼkumodzi. 27Ngʼombe zisanu ndi ziwiri zowonda ndi zosaoneka bwino zimene zinatuluka pambuyozo ndiponso ngala zisanu ndi ziwiri zachabechabe, zowauka ndi mphepo ya kummawa zija ndi zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri za njala.
28“Tsono ndi monga ndafotokozeramu kuti Mulungu wakuwuziranitu zimene adzachite. 29Zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri za zokolola zochuluka zikubwera mu dziko lonse la Igupto, 30koma zidzatsatana ndi zaka zina zisanu ndi ziwiri za njala. Chakudya chochuluka cha mu Igupto chija chidzayiwalika ndipo njalayo idzawononga dziko. 31Zakudya zochuluka za mʼdzikomo zija sizidzakumbukirikanso chifukwa njala imene iti idzabwereyo idzakhala yoopsa. 32Popeza kuti malotowa aperekedwa kwa inu Mfumu kawiri, ndiye kuti Mulungu watsimikiza kuti adzachitadi zimenezi posachedwapa.
33“Tsopano Farao apezeretu munthu wozindikira ndi wanzeru ndipo amuyike kukhala woyangʼanira dziko lonse la Igupto. 34Asankhenso akuluakulu a mʼdziko lino. Iwowa azitenga ndi kuyika padera limodzi la magawo asanu aliwonse a zokolola za mʼdziko muno mu zaka zonse zisanu ndi ziwiri za chakudya chochuluka. 35Iwo asonkhanitse zakudya zonse za mʼzaka zabwino zikubwerazi. Pansi pa ulamuliro wa Farao, akuluakuluwo asonkhanitse ndi kusunga bwino tirigu mʼmizinda yonse. 36Chakudya chimenechi chisungidwe kuti chidzagwiritsidwe ntchito mʼzaka zisanu ndi ziwiri za njala imene ikubwerayo mu Igupto, kuti anthu a mʼdzikoli asadzafe ndi njalayo.”
37Farao ndi nduna zake anagwirizana nawo malangizo a Yosefe. 38Choncho Farao anafunsa nduna zake nati, “Kodi tingathe kumupeza munthu wina ngati uyu, amene ali ndi mzimu wa Mulungu?”
39Farao anati kwa Yosefe, “Pakuti Mulungu wakudziwitsa iwe zonsezi, palibe wina wodziwa zinthu ndi wanzeru ngati iwe. 40Iwe ukhala nduna yayikulu mu dziko langa ndipo anthu onse adzamvera zimene walamula. Ine ndekha ndiye amene ndidzakuposa mphamvu chifukwa ndimakhala pa mpando waufumu.”
Yosefe Alamulira Dziko la Igupto
41Choncho Farao anati kwa Yosefe, “Ine ndikukuyika iwe kukhala nduna yoyangʼanira dziko lonse la Igupto.” 42Ndipo Farao anavula mphete ku chala chake nayiveka ku chala cha Yosefe. Anamuvekanso mkanjo wonyezimira ndi nkufu wagolide mʼkhosi mwake. 43Anamukweza Yosefe pa galeta ngati wachiwiri pa ulamuliro. Ndipo anthu anafuwula pamaso pake nati, “Mʼgwadireni!” Motero anakhala nduna yayikulu ya dziko lonse la Igupto.
44Kenaka Farao anati kwa Yosefe, “Ine ndine Farao; tsono iwe ukapanda kulamula, palibe amene akhoza kuchita chilichonse ngakhale kuyenda kumene mʼdziko lonse la Igupto.” 45Farao anamupatsa Yosefe dzina lakuti Zafenati-Panea ndipo anamupatsanso Asenati mwana wa mkazi wa Potifara, wansembe wa Oni, kuti akhale mkazi wake. Choncho Yosefe anayendera dziko lonse la Igupto.
46Yosefe anali ndi zaka 30 pamene amayamba ntchito kwa Farao, mfumu ya ku Igupto. Ndipo Yosefe anachoka pa maso pa Farao nayendera dziko lonse la Igupto. 47Mʼzaka zisanu ndi ziwiri za zokolola zambiri zija, anthu mʼdzikomo anakolola zochuluka. 48Yosefe anasonkhanitsa zakudya zonse zokololedwa mʼzaka zisanu ndi ziwiri zija ndipo anazisunga mʼmizinda. Mu mzinda uliwonse anayikamo chakudya chimene chinalimidwa mʼminda yozungulira komweko. 49Yosefe anasunga tirigu wochuluka kwambiri ngati mchenga wa ku nyanja. Kunali tirigu wochuluka kwambiri motero kuti analeka nʼkulembera komwe.
50Zisanafike zaka zanjala, Yosefe anabereka ana aamuna awiri mwa Asenati mwana wa mkazi wa Potifara, wansembe wa Oni. 51Yosefe anamutcha mwana wake woyamba, Manase popeza anati, “Mulungu wandiyiwalitsa zovuta zanga zija ndiponso banja la abambo anga.” 52Mwana wachiwiri wa mwamuna anamutcha Efereimu popeza anati, “Mulungu wandipatsa ana mʼdziko la masautso anga.”
53Zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri za zokolola zochuluka zija zinatha, 54ndipo zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri za njala zija zinayamba monga ananenera Yosefe. Njalayi inafika ku mayiko ena onse koma ku dziko lonse la Igupto kunali chakudya. 55Pamene njala ija inakwanira dziko lonse la Igupto anthu analilira Farao kuti awapatse chakudya. Koma Farao anawawuza kuti, “Pitani kwa Yosefe ndipo mukachite zimene akakuwuzeni.”
56Pamene njala inafalikira dziko lonse, Yosefe anatsekula nkhokwe za zakudya namagulitsa tirigu kwa anthu a ku Igupto aja, pakuti njala inafika poyipa kwambiri mu Igupto monse. 57Anthu ankabwera ku Igupto kuchokera ku mayiko ena onse kudzagula tirigu kwa Yosefe, chifukwa njala inafika poyipa kwambiri pa dziko lonse lapansi.
