< Genesis 41 >

1 After two years Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood by the river,
Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka emibili egcweleyo uFaro waba lephupho: Wazibona emi okhunjini lukaNayili,
2 Out of which came up seven kine, very beautiful and fat: and they fed in marshy places.
kwasekuqhamuka emfuleni lowo amankomokazi ayisikhombisa, egcwele njalo enonile, esidla phakathi kwemihlanga.
3 Other seven also came up out of the river, ill favoured, and leanfleshed: and they fed on the very bank of the river, in green places:
Ngemva kwawo kwathutsha amanye ayisikhombisa, amabi njalo acakileyo, aphuma kuNayili afika ema eceleni kwalawo ayesokhunjini lomfula.
4 And they devoured them, whose bodies were very beautiful and well conditioned. So Pharao awoke.
Amankomokazi ayemabi, ecakile aginya lawo ayisikhombisa ayegcwele, enonile. UFaro wasephaphama.
5 He slept again, and dreamed another dream: Seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk full and fair:
Wabuye walala waphupha okwesibili: Izikhwebu zamabele eziyisikhombisa, zigcwele zizinhle, zazikhula ehlangeni linye.
6 Then seven other ears sprung up thin and blasted,
Ngemva kwazo kwakhula ezinye izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa, zicakile njalo zihangulwe ludwangu.
7 And devoured all the beauty of the former. Pharao awaked after his rest:
Izikhwebu lezo ezazicakile zaginya lezo eziyisikhombisa ezaziphilile, zigcwele. UFaro wasephaphama, kwakuliphupho nje.
8 And when morning was come, being struck with fear, he sent to all the interpreters of Egypt, and to all the wise men: and they being called for, he told them his dream, and there was not any one that could interpret it.
Ekuseni umoya wakhe wawukhathazekile, ngakho wasesithi kakubizwe bonke abemilingo lezazi zaseGibhithe. UFaro wabatshela amaphupho akhe, kodwa akakho loyedwa owakwaziyo ukuwachasisa.
9 Then at length the chief butler remembering, said: I confess my sin:
Umphathinkezo omkhulu wathi kuFaro, “Lamuhla sengikhumbula amaphutha ami.
10 The king being angry with his servants, commanded me and the chief baker to be cast into the prison of the captain of the soldiers:
UFaro wake wazondela izinceku zakhe, wangivalela mina kanye lomphekizinkwa omkhulu endlini yendunankulu yabalindi.
11 Where in one night both of us dreamed a dream foreboding things to come.
Ngamunye wethu waba lephupho ngobusuku bunye, iphupho linye ngalinye lalilengcazelo yalo lodwa.
12 There was there a young man a Hebrew, servant to the same captain of the soldiers: to whom we told our dreams,
Kwakulejaha lomHebheru khonapho, lathi liyinceku yendunankulu yabalindi. Salitshela amaphupho ethu, lasichasisela wona, lisipha ngulowo ingcazelo yephupho lakhe.
13 And we heard what afterwards the event of the thing proved to be so. For I was restored to my office: and he was hanged upon a gibbet.
Izinto zaba njengokusichazela kwakhe: ngabuyiselwa esikhundleni sami, lomkhula wami walengiswa.”
14 Forthwith at the king’s command, Joseph was brought out of the prison, and they shaved him, and changing his apparel, brought him in to him.
Ngakho uFaro wabiza uJosefa, walethwa masinyane esuka entolongweni. Kwathi esephucile indevu, wantshintsha izigqoko weza phambi kukaFaro.
15 And he said to him: I have dreamed dreams, and there is no one that can expound them: Now I have heard that thou art very wise at interpreting them.
UFaro wathi kuJosefa, “Ngiphuphe iphupho, kodwa kakho ongangichasisela lona. Kodwa ngizwa kuthiwa wena, nxa ungalizwa iphupho uyalichasisa.”
16 Joseph answered: Without me, God shall give Pharao a prosperous answer.
UJosefa wamphendula uFaro wathi, “Ngeke ngikwenze, kodwa uNkulunkulu uzamnika uFaro impendulo ayidingayo.”
17 So Pharao told what he had dreamed: Methought I stood upon the bank of the river,
UFaro wasesithi kuJosefa, “Ephutsheni lami bengimi okhunjini lukaNayili,
18 And seven kine came up out of the river exceeding beautiful and full of flesh: and they grazed on green places in a marshy pasture.
ngasengibona kuqhamuka amankomokazi ayisikhombisa, anonileyo, egcwele, esidla phakathi kwemihlanga.
19 And behold, there followed these, other seven kine, so very ill favoured and lean, that I never saw the like in the land of Egypt:
Ngemva kwawo kwaqhamuka amanye amankomokazi ayisikhombisa, etshwabhene, emabi kakhulu futhi ecakile. Ngangingakaze ngibone amankomokazi amabi kangako kulolonke elaseGibhithe.
20 And they devoured and consumed the former,
Lawo mankomokazi acakileyo, amabi adla lawana amankomokazi ayisikhombisa ayenonile ayiwo aqhamuka kuqala.
21 And yet gave no mark of their being full: but were as lean and ill favoured as before. I awoke, and then fell asleep again,
Kodwa loba esewadlile lawo kakho owayengatsho ukuthi atheni; ayelokhu emabi njengakuqala. Ngasengiphaphama.
22 And dreamed a dream: Seven ears of corn grew upon one stalk, full and very fair.
Ephutsheni lami ngibone njalo izikhwebu zamabele eziyisikhombisa, zigcwele, njalo zizinhle zikhula ehlangeni linye.
23 Other seven also thin and blasted, sprung of the stock:
Ngemva kwazo, kwahluma ezinye izikhwebu eziyisikhombisa, zibunile njalo zicakile, zihangulwe ludwangu.
24 And they devoured the beauty of the former: I told this dream to the conjecturers, and there is no man that can expound it.
Lezozikhwebu zamabele ezicakileyo zaginya leziyana eziyisikhombisa ezinhle. Ngibatshelile abamasalamusi ngalokhu, kodwa kakho okwazileyo ukungichasisela.”
25 Joseph answered: The king’s dream is one: God hath shewn to Pharao what he is about to do.
UJosefa wasesithi kuFaro, “Amaphupho kaFaro ayilutho lunye. UNkulunkulu usevezile kuFaro lokho asezakwenza.
26 The seven beautiful kine, and the seven full ears, are seven years of plenty: and both contain the same meaning of the dream.
Amankomokazi ayisikhombisa amahle ayiminyaka eyisikhombisa, njalo lezikhwebu zamabele ezinhle ziyiminyaka eyisikhombisa; kuliphupho linye.
27 And the seven lean and thin kine that came up after them, and the seven thin ears that were blasted with the burning wind, are seven years of famine to come:
Amankomokazi ayisikhombisa eza muva yiminyaka eyisikhombisa, kanjalo lezikhwebu eziyisikhombisa ezazingelamsebenzi, zitshaywe ludwangu: Yiminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala.
28 Which shall be fulfilled in this order:
Kunjengokuba ngitshilo kuFaro. UNkulunkulu usevezile kuFaro lokho azakwenza.
29 Behold, there shall come seven years of great plenty in the whole land of Egypt:
Sekusiza iminyaka eyisikhombisa eyenala enkulu kulolonke elaseGibhithe,
30 After which shall follow other seven years of so great scarcity, that all the abundance before shall be forgotten: for the famine shall consume all the land,
kodwa izalandelwa yiminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala. Kuzakuthi yonke inala enkulu eGibhithe ikhohlakale, ngoba indlala izalibhubhisa ilizwe.
31 And the greatness of the scarcity shall destroy the greatness of the plenty.
Inala elizweni izabe ingasakhunjulwa, ngoba indlala eyilandelayo izabe inkulu kakhulu.
32 And for that thou didst see the second time a dream pertaining to the same thing: it is a token of the certainty, and that the word of God cometh to pass, and is fulfilled speedily.
Isizatho sokuthi iphupho liphiwe uFaro ngezindlela ezimbili yikuthi, indaba isimiswe yaqiniswa nguNkulunkulu, njalo uNkulunkulu uzakukwenza masinyane.
33 Now therefore let the king provide a wise and industrious man, and make him ruler over the land of Egypt:
Khathesi-ke uFaro kadinge indoda elombono njalo ehlakaniphileyo ayibeke phezu kwelizwe laseGibhithe.
34 That he may appoint overseers over all the countries: and gather into barns the fifth part of the fruits, during the seven fruitful years,
UFaro abesekhetha abalisa elizweni abazathatha ingxenye eyodwa kwezinhlanu yesivuno saseGibhithe ngeminyaka yenala eyisikhombisa.
35 That shall now presently ensue: and let all the corn be laid up under Pharao’s hands and be reserved in the cities.
Kumele baqoqe konke ukudla ngale iminyaka emihle ezayo bakugcine ukudla ngaphansi kukaFaro, kugcinwe emadolobheni ukuthi kube yikudla.
36 And let it be in readiness, against the famine of seven years to come, which shall oppress Egypt, and the land shall not be consumed with scarcity.
Ukudla lokhu kakugcinelwe ilizwe kulondolozelwe ukusetshenziswa ngeminyaka eyisikhombisa yendlala ezafika eGibhithe, ukwenzela ukuthi ilizwe lingabhujiswa yindlala.”
37 The counsel pleased Pharao and all his servants.
Icebo leli lakhanya lilihle kuFaro lakuzo zonke izikhulu zakhe.
38 And he said to them: Can we find such another man, that is full of the spirit of God?
UFaro wasezibuza wathi, “Kambe singamfumana yini omunye onjengendoda le, umuntu olomoya kaNkulunkulu?”
39 He said therefore to Joseph: Seeing God hath shewn thee all that thou hast said, can I find one wiser and one like unto thee?
UFaro wasesithi kuJosefa, “Njengoba uNkulunkulu esekwazisile konke lokhu, kakho olombono onje lohlakaniphileyo njengawe.
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and at the commandment of thy mouth all the people shall obey: only in the kingly throne will I be above thee.
Wena-ke usuzaphatha isigodlo sami, kuthi bonke abantu bami bazalalela iziqondiso zakho. Mina ngizakuba mkhulu kulawe ngesikhundla sesihlalo sobukhosi sami kuphela.”
41 And again Pharao said to Joseph: Behold, I have appointed thee over the whole land of Egypt.
Ngakho uFaro wasesithi kuJosefa, “Sengikubeka ukuthi wena uliphathe lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.”
42 And he took his ring from his own hand, and gave it into his hand: and he put upon him a robe of silk, and put a chain of gold about his neck.
UFaro wasethatha indandatho yophawu lwakhe eyayisemunweni wakhe wayifaka emunweni kaJosefa. Wamgqokisa izembatho zelineni elihle wamgqizisa iketane yegolide entanyeni.
43 And he made him go up into his second chariot, the crier proclaiming that all should bow their knee before him, and that they should know he was made governor over the whole land of Egypt.
Kwathiwa usezahamba ngenqola yempi njengoba esenguye umsekeli wakhe oseduze, kwathi edlula abantu bamemeza bathi, “Vulani indlela!” Wambeka-ke ukuthi aphathe ilizwe lonke laseGibhithe.
44 And the king said to Joseph: I am Pharao; without thy commandment no man shall move hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
UFaro wasesithi kuJosefa, “Mina nginguFaro, kodwa ngaphandle kwelizwi lakho kakho ozasiphakamisa isandla loba unyawo kulolonke elaseGibhithe.”
45 And he turned his name, and called him in the Egyptian tongue, The saviour of the world. And he gave him to wife Aseneth the daughter of Putiphare priest of Heliopolis. Then Joseph went out to the land of Egypt:
UFaro wetha uJosefa ibizo elithi Zafenathi-Phaneya, wasemupha u-Asenathi indodakazi kaPhothifera, umphristi wase-Oni ukuba abe ngumkakhe. UJosefa walibhoda lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.
46 (Now he was thirty years old when he stood before king Pharao) and he went round all the countries of Egypt.
UJosefa wayeleminyaka engamatshumi amathathu yokuzalwa eqalisa ukusebenzela uFaro inkosi yaseGibhithe. UJosefa wasuka phambi kukaFaro walibhoda lonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.
47 And the fruitfulness of the seven years came: and the corn being bound up into sheaves was gathered together into the barns of Egypt.
Ngeminyaka eyisikhombisa yenala umhlaba wathela ukudla okunengi kakhulu.
48 And all the abundance of grain was laid up in every city.
UJosefa wakuqoqa konke ukudla okwavunwa phakathi kwaleyominyaka eyisikhombisa yenala eGibhithe wakulondoloza emadolobheni. Kulelo lalelodolobho wabeka ukudla okwakulinywa emasimini akuleyondawo.
49 And there was so great abundance of wheat, that it was equal to the sand of the sea, and the plenty exceeded measure.
UJosefa waqoqa izinqwaba lezinqwaba zamabele, kwaba njengetshebetshebe lolwandle. Kwaba kunengi waze wayekela ukukubhala phansi ngoba kwasekungaphezu kokulinganiswa.
50 And before the famine came, Joseph had two sons born: whom Aseneth the daughter of Putiphare priest of Heliopolis bore unto him.
Ingakafiki iminyaka yendlala, u-Asenathi, indodakazi kaPhothifera, umphristi ka-Oni wazalela uJosefa amadodana amabili.
51 And he called the name of the firstborn Manasses, saying: God hath made me to forget all my labours, and my father’s house.
UJosefa wetha izibulo lakhe wathi nguManase, esithi, “Kungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu wenzile ukuthi ngilukhohlwe lonke uhlupho lwami kanye layo yonke indlu kababa.”
52 And he named the second Ephraim, saying: God hath made me to grow in the land of my poverty.
Indodana yesibili wayibiza ngokuthi ngu-Efrayimi, wathi, “Kungenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu ungenze ngaba lezithelo elizweni lokuhlupheka kwami.”
53 Now when the seven years of the plenty that had been in Egypt were past:
Iminyaka yenala eyisikhombisa eGibhithe yaphela,
54 The seven years of scarcity, which Joseph had foretold, began to come: and the famine prevailed in the whole world, but there was bread in all the land of Egypt.
kwaqalisa iminyaka yendlala eyisikhombisa, njengoba uJosefa wayetshilo. Indlala yaba khona kuwo wonke amanye amazwe, kodwa kulolonke ilizwe laseGibhithe ukudla kwakukhona.
55 And when there also they began to be famished, the people cried to Pharao for food. And he said to them: Go to Joseph: and do all that he shall say to you.
Kwathi lapho iGibhithe lonke selingenelwa yindlala abantu bazibika kuFaro befuna ukudla. Ngakho uFaro wasebatshela bonke abaseGibhithe wathi, “Yanini kuJosefa lenze lokho alitshela khona.”
56 And the famine increased daily in all the land: and Joseph opened all the barns, and sold to the Egyptians: for the famine had oppressed them also.
Kwathi indlala isimemetheke kulolonke ilizwe uJosefa wavula iziphala wawathengisela amaGibhithe ukudla ngoba indlala yayisinkulu kakhulu kulolonke ilizwe laseGibhithe.
57 And all provinces came into Egypt, to buy food, and to seek some relief of their want.
Kwathi wonke amanye amazwe eza eGibhithe ezothenga amabele kuJosefa, ngoba indlala yayibhahile kuwo wonke umhlaba.

< Genesis 41 >