Genesis 41
1 Post duos annos vidit Pharao somnium. Putabat se stare super fluvium,
After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,
2 de quo ascendebant septem boves, pulchrae et crassae nimis: et pascebantur in locis palustribus.
when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
3 Aliae quoque septem emergebant de flumine, foedae, confectaeque macie: et pascebantur in ipsa amnis ripa in locis virentibus:
After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside the well-fed cows on the bank of the river.
4 devoraveruntque eas, quarum mira species, et habitudo corporum erat. Expergefactus Pharao,
And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,
5 rursum dormivit, et vidit alterum somnium: Septem spicae pullulabant in culmo uno plenae atque formosae:
but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.
6 aliae quoque totidem spicae tenues, et percussae uredine oriebantur,
After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.
7 devorantes omnium priorum pulchritudinem. Evigilans Pharao post quietem,
And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.
8 et facto mane, pavore perterritus, misit ad omnes coniectores Aegypti, cunctosque sapientes: et accersitis narravit somnium, nec erat qui interpretaretur.
In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9 Tunc demum reminiscens pincernarum magister, ait: Confiteor peccatum meum:
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.
10 Iratus rex servis suis, me et magistrum pistorum retrudi iussit in carcerem principis militum:
Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.
11 ubi una nocte uterque vidimus somnium praesagium futurorum.
One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.
12 Erat ibi puer Hebraeus, eiusdem ducis militum famulus: cui narrantes somnia,
Now 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 individually.
13 audivimus quidquid postea rei probavit eventus. ego enim redditus sum officio meo: et ille suspensus est in cruce.
And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”
14 Protinus ad regis imperium eductum de carcere Ioseph totonderunt: ac veste mutata, obtulerunt ei.
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 Cui ille ait: Vidi somnia, nec est qui edisserat: quae audivi te sapientissime coniicere.
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 Respondit Ioseph: Absque me Deus respondebit prospera Pharaoni.
“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
17 Narravit ergo Pharao quod viderat: Putabam me stare super ripam fluminis,
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 et septem boves de amne conscendere, pulchras nimis, et obesis carnibus: quae in pastu paludis virecta carpebant.
when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
19 et ecce, has sequebantur aliae septem boves in tantum deformes et macilentae, ut numquam tales in terra Aegypti viderim:
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 quae, devoratis et consumptis prioribus,
Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.
21 nullum saturitatis dedere vestigium: sed simili macie et squalore torpebant. Evigilans, rursus sopore depressus,
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 vidi somnium: Septem spicae pullulabant in culmo uno plenae atque pulcherrimae.
In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.
23 Aliae quoque septem tenues et percussae uredine, oriebantur e stipula:
After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.
24 quae priorum pulchritudinem devoraverunt. Narravi coniectoribus somnium, et nemo est qui edisserat.
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.”
25 Respondit Ioseph: Somnium regis unum est: quae facturus est Deus, ostendit Pharaoni.
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 Septem boves pulchrae, et septem spicae plenae: septem hubertatis anni sunt: eandemque vim somnii comprehendunt.
The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.
27 Septem quoque boves tenues atque macilentae, quae ascenderunt post eas, et septem spicae tenues, et vento urente percussae, septem anni venturae sunt famis.
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 Qui hoc ordine complebuntur:
It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29 Ecce septem anni venient fertilitatis magnae in universa terra Aegypti:
Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 quos sequentur septem anni alii tantae sterilitatis, ut oblivioni tradatur cuncta retro abundantia: consumptura est enim fames omnem terram,
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 et ubertatis magnitudinem perditura est inopiae magnitudo.
The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 Quod autem vidisti secundo ad eandem rem pertinens somnium: firmitatis indicium est, eo quod fiat sermo Dei, et velocius impleatur.
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.
33 Nunc ergo provideat rex virum sapientem et industrium, et praeficiat eum Terrae Aegypti:
Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Qui constituat praepositos per cunctas regiones: et quintam partem fructuum per septem annos fertilitatis,
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 qui iam nunc futuri sunt, congreget in horrea: et omne frumentum sub Pharaonis potestate condatur, serveturque in urbibus.
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 Et praeparetur futurae septem annorum fami, quae oppressura est Aegyptum, et non consumetur terra inopia.
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.”
37 Placuit Pharaoni consilium et cunctis ministris eius:
This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.
38 locutusque est ad eos: Num invenire poterimus talem virum, qui spiritu Dei plenus sit?
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
39 Dixit ergo ad Ioseph: Quia ostendit tibi Deus omnia quae locutus es, numquid sapientiorem et consimilem tui invenire potero?
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 Tu eris super domum meam, et ad tui oris imperium cunctus populus obediet: uno tantum regni solio te praecedam.
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 Dixitque rursus Pharao ad Ioseph: Ecce, constitui te super universam terram Aegypti.
Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”
42 Tulitque annulum de manu sua, et dedit eum in manu eius: vestivitque eum stola byssina, et collo torquem auream circumposuit.
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 Fecitque eum ascendere super currum suum secundum, clamante praecone, ut omnes coram eo genu flecterent, et praepositum esse scirent universae Terrae Aegypti.
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 Dixit quoque rex Aegypti ad Ioseph: Ego sum Pharao: absque tuo imperio non movebit quisquam manum aut pedem in omni terra Aegypti.
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 Vertitque nomen eius, et vocavit eum lingua Aegyptiaca, Salvatorem mundi. Deditque illi uxorem Aseneth filiam Phutipharis sacerdotis Heliopoleos. Egressus est itaque Ioseph ad terram Aegypti
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.
46 (Triginta autem annorum erat quando stetit in conspectu regis Pharaonis) et circuivit omnes regiones Aegypti.
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 Venitque fertilitas septem annorum: et in manipulos redactae segetes congregatae sunt in horrea Aegypti.
During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.
48 Omnis etiam frugum abundantia in singulis urbibus condita est.
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 Tantaque fuit abundantia tritici, ut arenae maris coaequaretur, et copia mensuram excederet.
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.
50 Natique sunt Ioseph filii duo antequam veniret fames: quos peperit ei Aseneth filia Phutipharis sacerdotis Heliopoleos.
Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
51 Vocavitque nomen primogeniti, Manasses, dicens: Oblivisci me fecit Deus omnium laborum meorum, et domus patris mei.
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”
52 Nomen quoque secundi appellavit Ephraim, dicens: Crescere me fecit Deus in terra paupertatis meae.
And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
53 Igitur transactis septem hubertatis annis, qui fuerant in Aegypto:
When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,
54 coeperunt venire septem anni inopiae: quos praedixerat Ioseph: et in universo orbe fames praevaluit, in cuncta autem terra Aegypti panis erat.
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 Qua esuriente, clamavit populus ad Pharaonem, alimenta petens. Quibus ille respondit: Ite ad Ioseph: et quidquid ipse vobis dixerit, facite.
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 Crescebat autem quotidie fames in omni terra: aperuitque Ioseph universa horrea, et vendebat Aegyptiis: nam et illos oppresserat fames.
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 Omnesque provinciae veniebant in Aegyptum, ut emerent escas, et malum inopiae temperarent.
And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
