创世记 45:25-50:14
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
兄弟回家迎接父親
25 他們離開埃及，上到迦南地他們父親雅各那裡去， 26 告訴他，說：“約瑟還在，並且作了埃及全地的首相。”雅各的心冷淡麻木，因為他不相信他們。 27 他們就把約瑟對他們所說的一切話，都告訴了他。他們的父親雅各看見了約瑟派來接他的車輛，心才甦醒過來。 28 以色列說：“夠了！約瑟我的兒子還在；在我還沒有死以前，我要去看看他。”
雅各下埃及
46 以色列帶著他所有的一切起程，到了別是巴，就向他父親以撒的 神獻祭。 2 神在夜間的異象中對以色列說：“雅各，雅各。”雅各說：“我在這裡。” 3 神說：“我是 神，就是你父親的 神；你不要怕下埃及去，因為我必使你在那裡成為大國。 4 我要親自與你一同下到埃及去，也必把你帶上來。約瑟要親手合上你的眼給你送終。” 5 雅各就從別是巴起程。以色列的眾子，用法老為雅各送來的車輛，接載他們的父親雅各，以及他們的孩子和妻子。 6 他們又帶著牲畜，和他們在迦南地所得的財物，來到埃及。這樣，雅各和他所有的子孫，都一同來了。 7 雅各把他的眾兒子、孫子、女兒、孫女和他所有的後裔，都一同帶到埃及去了。
雅各的子孫
8 來到埃及的以色列人，就是雅各和他的子孫，名單記在下面：雅各的長子是流本。 9 流本的兒子是哈諾、法路、希斯崙和迦米。 10 西緬的兒子是耶母利、雅憫、阿轄、雅斤、瑣轄和迦南女子所生的掃羅。 11 利未的兒子是革順、哥轄和米拉利。 12 猶大的兒子是珥、俄南、示拉、法勒斯和謝拉，但是珥和俄南都在迦南地死了。法勒斯的兒子是希斯倫和哈母勒。 13 以薩迦的兒子是陀拉、普瓦、雅述（按照《按照馬拉文本》，“雅述”作“喲伯”；現參照《撒瑪利亞五經》和《七十士譯本》翻譯；參民26:24及代上7:1）和伸崙。 14 西布倫的兒子是西烈、以倫和雅利。 15 以上這些人是利亞在巴旦．亞蘭給雅各生的兒子，另外還有女兒底拿。這些子孫一共三十三人。 16 迦得的兒子是洗非芸、哈基、書尼、以斯本、以利、亞羅底和亞列利。 17 亞設的兒子是音拿、亦施瓦、亦施韋和比利亞，還有他們的姊妹西拉。比利亞的兒子是希別和瑪結。 18 以上這些人是拉班給女兒利亞作婢女的悉帕給雅各生的子孫，一共十六人。 19 雅各的妻子拉結，生了約瑟和便雅憫。 20 約瑟在埃及地生了瑪拿西和以法蓮，就是安城的祭司波提非拉的女兒亞西納給約瑟生的。 21 便雅憫的兒子是比拉、比結、亞實別、基拉、乃幔、以希、羅實、母平、戶平和亞勒。 22 以上這些人是拉結給雅各生的子孫，一共十四人。 23 但的兒子是戶伸。 24 拿弗他利的兒子是雅薛、沽尼、耶色和示冷。 25 以上這些人是拉班給女兒拉結作婢女的辟拉給雅各生的子孫，一共七人。 26 所有從雅各所生、與雅各一同來到埃及的人，除了他的兒婦之外，一共六十六人。 27 另外還有約瑟在埃及所生的兩個兒子。雅各家來到埃及的所有成員，一共七十人。
約瑟到歌珊迎接父親
28 雅各派猶大先到約瑟那裡去，請約瑟指教他去歌珊的路。於是他們來到歌珊地。 29 約瑟預備了車，上去歌珊迎接他的父親以色列。約瑟一看見他，就伏在他的頸項上，在他的頸項上哭了很久。 30 以色列對約瑟說：“這一次我看見了你的面，知道你還在，我死了也甘心。” 31 約瑟對他的兄弟們和他的父家說：“我要上去告訴法老，對他說：‘我在迦南地的兄弟們和我的父家，都到我這裡來了。 32 這些人都是牧羊人，以牧養牲畜為生。他們把自己的牛羊和一切所有的，都帶來了。’ 33 法老召見你們的時候，如果問你們：‘你們是作甚麼的？’ 34 你們就要回答：‘僕人們從幼年直到現在，都是以牧養牲畜為生。我們和我們的祖先都是一樣。’這樣，你們就可以住在歌珊地，因為埃及人厭惡所有牧羊的人。”
約瑟的兄弟進見法老
47 約瑟進去稟告法老，說：“我的父親和兄弟們，帶著他們的牛羊和他們所有的一切，都從迦南地來了，現在就在歌珊地。” 2 約瑟從他所有的兄弟當中，挑選了五個人，把他們帶到法老面前。 3 法老問約瑟的兄弟們說：“你們是作甚麼的？”他們回答法老：“僕人們是牧羊人，我們和我們的祖先都是一樣。” 4 他們又對法老說：“我們來是要在這地寄居，因為迦南地的饑荒嚴重，你僕人們的羊群沒有草吃，所以，現在求你容許你僕人住在歌珊地。” 5 法老對約瑟說：“你的父親和兄弟們到你這裡來了； 6 埃及地都在你面前，你只管叫你的父親和兄弟們住在這地最好的地方，他們可以住在歌珊地。你如果知道他們中間有能幹的人，可以派他們看管我的牲畜。”
雅各進見法老
7 約瑟把他父親雅各帶到法老面前，雅各就給法老祝福。 8 法老問雅各：“你有多大年紀了？” 9 雅各回答法老：“我寄居在世的年日是一百三十歲。我一生的年日又少又苦，不及我祖先寄居在世的年日。” 10 雅各又給法老祝福，然後離開法老出去了。 11 約瑟照著法老的吩咐安置他的父親和兄弟們，把蘭塞地，就是埃及地最好的地方，給他們作產業。 12 約瑟照著孩子的數目，用糧食供養他的父親、兄弟們，以及父親的家人。
饑荒
13 那時，遍地都沒有糧食，因為饑荒非常嚴重。埃及地和迦南地的人，因為饑荒的緣故都餓昏了。 14 約瑟收集了埃及地和迦南地所有的銀子，就是眾人買糧的銀子；約瑟就把那些銀子交到法老的王宮去。 15 埃及地和迦南地的銀子都用盡了，埃及眾人就來到約瑟那裡，說：“銀子已用完了。求你給我們糧食吧，我們為甚麼要餓死在你面前呢？” 16 約瑟回答：“如果銀子用完了，可以把你們的牲畜給我，我就把糧食給你們，交換你們的牲畜。” 17 於是，他們把牲畜帶到約瑟那裡，約瑟就把糧食給他們，交換他們的馬匹、羊群、牛群和驢。那一年，約瑟就用糧食交換他們所有的牲畜，來養活他們。 18 那一年過後，第二年他們又來到約瑟那裡，對他說：“我們不向我主隱瞞，我們的銀子都用盡了，牲畜也歸了我主；在我主面前，除了我們的身體和田地以外，甚麼也沒有剩下了。 19 為甚麼我們和我們的田地要在你面前消滅呢？求你用糧食買我們和我們的田地，我們和田地就必為法老效勞了。又求你給我們穀種，使我們可以活著，不至死亡，田地也不至荒蕪。”
20 於是，約瑟為法老買了埃及所有的田地，因為埃及人遭遇了嚴重的饑荒，各人都賣了自己的田地。這樣，那地就都歸法老所有。 21 至於人民，約瑟使他們作奴僕（按照《馬索拉文本》，“使他們作奴僕”作“把他們遷到城市裡去”；現參照其他抄本及古譯本翻譯），從埃及境內的一端，直到另一端。 22 只有祭司的田地，約瑟沒有買，因為祭司有從法老所得的糧餉；他們可以吃法老所給的糧餉，所以沒有賣自己的田地。 23 約瑟對人民說：“看哪，我今日為法老買了你們和你們的田地。這裡有穀種給你們，你們可以種地。 24 到了收割的時候，你們要把五分之一給法老，其餘四分可以歸你們自己，作田裡的種子，又作你們以及你們家人和孩子的食物。” 25 他們說：“你救了我們；願我們在我主面前得蒙喜悅，我們就作法老的奴僕。” 26 於是，約瑟為埃及的田地立了一個法例，直到今日還有效，就是五分之一歸給法老；只有祭司的田地不歸給法老。
雅各向約瑟最後的要求
27 以色列人住在埃及國的歌珊地，他們在那裡置業繁衍，人數非常眾多。 28 雅各在埃及地住了十七年；他一生的壽數是一百四十七歲。 29 以色列的死期快到了，就把他兒子約瑟叫了來，對他說：“如果我在你面前蒙你喜悅，請你把手放在我的大腿底下起誓，要以慈愛和誠實對待我，不要把我埋葬在埃及。 30 我與我的祖先同睡的時候，你要把我從埃及帶出去，埋葬在他們的墓地裡。”約瑟說：“我必照著你的話去作。” 31 雅各說：“你要向我起誓。”約瑟就向他起了誓，於是以色列靠著床頭（“靠著床頭”有古譯本作“倚著杖頭”〔參來11:21〕）敬拜 神。
雅各祝福以法蓮和瑪拿西
48 這些事以後，有人對約瑟說：“你的父親病了。”約瑟就帶著兩個兒子瑪拿西和以法蓮同去。 2 有人告訴雅各，說：“你的兒子約瑟到你這裡來了。”以色列就勉強在床上坐起來。 3 雅各對約瑟說：“全能的 神曾經在迦南地的路斯向我顯現，賜福給我， 4 對我說：‘我必使你繁衍增多，成為一大族；我必把這地賜給你的後裔，作永遠的產業。’ 5 我未到埃及見你之前，你在埃及地生了兩個兒子，現在他們算是我的；以法蓮和瑪拿西是我的，好像流本和西緬是我的一樣。 6 你在他們以後所生的子孫，都是你的；不過，在繼承產業的事上，他們可以歸在他們哥哥的名下。 7 至於我，我從巴旦回來的時候，在迦南地的路上，那裡到以法他還有一段路程，拉結就死在我身邊；我在那裡把她埋葬在以法他的路旁。以法他就是伯利恆。”
雅各祝福約瑟
8 以色列看見約瑟的兒子，就問：“他們是誰？” 9 約瑟回答父親：“他們是我的兒子，是 神在這裡賜給我的。”以色列說：“把他們領到我這裡來，我要給他們祝福。” 10 以色列因為年老，眼睛昏花，看不清楚。約瑟領他們到他跟前去，他就與他們親吻，擁抱他們。 11 以色列對約瑟說：“我想不到可以看見你的面，現在 神竟使我見到你的後裔。” 12 約瑟把兩個兒子從以色列膝上抱下來，自己臉伏在地下拜。 13 約瑟領著他們兩個到以色列的跟前，以法蓮在約瑟的右邊對著以色列的左邊；瑪拿西在約瑟的左邊對著以色列的右邊。 14 但是，以色列兩手交叉，右手按在次子以法蓮的頭上，左手按在長子瑪拿西的頭上。 15 他祝福約瑟，說：
“願我祖亞伯拉罕和以撒所侍候的 神，
一生牧養我直到今日的 神，
16 那救我脫離一切禍患的使者，賜福給這兩個童子。
願我的名，我祖亞伯拉罕和以撒的名，藉著他們得以流傳；
願他們在地上生養眾多。”
17 約瑟見他父親把右手按在以法蓮的頭上，心裡就不高興，於是拿住他父親的手，要從以法蓮的頭上移到瑪拿西的頭上。 18 約瑟對他父親說：“爸爸啊，不是這樣，這個才是長子，請你把右手按在他的頭上。” 19 他父親卻不肯，說：“我知道，我兒啊，我知道，他也要成為一族，也要強大；只是他弟弟比他還要強大，他的後裔要成為多族。” 20 那一天，以色列給他們祝福，說：
“以色列人要用你的名祝福人，說：
‘願 神使你像以法蓮和瑪拿西一樣。’”於是，以色列立以法蓮在瑪拿西之上。
21 以色列又對約瑟說：“看哪，我快要死了，但是 神必與你們同在，必領你們回到你們祖先的土地去。 22 現在我把從前用刀和弓，從亞摩利人手中奪過來的那塊山地賜給你，使你比眾兄弟多得一份。”
雅各祝福眾子
49 雅各把他的眾子叫來，說：“你們要聚集在一起，我要把你們日後必遇到的事告訴你們。
2 雅各的兒子們哪，你們要一起來聽；
要聽你們父親以色列的話。
3 流本哪，你是我的長子，
是我的力量，是我的初生子；
你大有尊榮，權力超眾；
4 但是你放縱情慾，好像水沸騰一樣，你必不能居首位；
因為你上了你父親的床；
上了我的榻，然後把它玷污了。
5 西緬和利未是兄弟；
他們的刀劍是強暴的武器。
6 我的靈啊，不可加入他們的陰謀；
我的心啊，不可參與他們的集會，
因為他們在怒中殺人，
任意砍斷牛的腿筋。
7 他們的怒氣可咒，因為非常暴烈；
他們的烈怒可詛，因為十分兇猛；
我要把他們分散在雅各家；
把他們散居在以色列。
8 猶大啊，你的兄弟們要稱讚你；
你的手必壓住仇敵的頸項；
你父親的眾子必向你下拜。
9 猶大是隻小獅子；
我兒啊，你獵取了食物就上到洞穴去。
他屈身伏臥，好像公獅，
又像母獅，誰敢驚動他呢？
10 權杖必不離開猶大，
王圭必不離他兩腳之間，
直到細羅（“細羅”有古譯本作“屬他的那位”）來到，
萬族都要臣服他。
11 猶大把自己的驢駒拴在葡萄樹旁，
把自己的小驢繫在上等的葡萄樹旁；
他在葡萄酒中洗淨自己的衣服，
在血紅的葡萄汁中洗衣袍。
12 他因飲酒而雙眼發紅，
他因喝奶而牙齒雪白。
13 西布倫必在沿海地帶居住，
他必成為船隻停泊的港口，
他的邊界必伸到西頓。
14 以薩迦是一頭粗壯的驢，
伏臥在羊圈（“羊圈”原文意思不詳，或譯：“重馱”）之間；
15 他看安居為美，
他看肥地為佳，
他屈肩負重，
成了服苦的奴僕。
16 但要審判自己的人民，
作以色列的一個支派。
17 但要作路上的蛇，
道中的毒蛇，
他要咬傷馬蹄，
使騎馬的人向後墜落。
18 耶和華啊，我向來等候你的拯救。
19 迦得必被侵略者追逼，
他卻要追逼他們的腳跟。
20 至於亞設，他的食物必定肥美，
他有美食可以供奉君王。
21 拿弗他利是隻得釋放的母鹿，
發出優美的言語。
22 約瑟是一根結果子的樹枝，
是一根泉旁結果子的樹枝，
他的枝條蔓延出牆外。
23 弓箭手把他苦害，
向他射箭敵對他。
24 但他的弓依然堅硬，
他的手臂仍舊敏捷，
這是出於雅各的大能者之手；
出於以色列的牧者，以色列的磐石。
25 是你父親的 神幫助你，
是那全能者賜給你；
他把從天上來的福，
地下深淵蘊藏著的福，
哺乳和生育的福，都賜給你。
26 你父親的祝福，
勝過我祖先的祝福（“勝過我祖先的祝福”有古譯本作“勝過亙古的山岡”），勝過永遠山嶺上的美物。
願這些福都降在約瑟的頭上，
降在兄弟中作王子的那一位頭上。
27 便雅憫是隻撕掠的豺狼，
早晨吞吃他的獵物，
晚上瓜分他的擄物。”
28 這些就是以色列的十二支派；以上是他們父親對他們所說的話，是按著各人的福分給他們所祝的福。
雅各的遺囑及其逝世
29 雅各又囑咐他們，對他們說：“我快要歸到我的親族那裡去，你們要把我埋葬在赫人以弗崙田間的洞裡，與我的祖先在一起。 30 這個洞在迦南地，在幔利前面的麥比拉的田間。那地方原是亞伯拉罕向赫人以弗崙買下來作墳地的。 31 他們在那裡埋葬了亞伯拉罕和他的妻子撒拉；又在那裡埋葬了以撒和他的妻子利百加；我也在那裡埋葬了利亞。 32 那塊田和田間的洞，是向赫人買來的。” 33 雅各對他的眾子囑咐完了，就把雙腳收回床上，氣絕而死，歸到他的親族那裡去了。
雅各死後之榮哀
50 約瑟伏在他父親的臉上，為他哀哭，與他親吻。 2 約瑟吩咐臣僕中作醫生的，用香料包殮了他的父親。他們就用香料包殮了以色列。 3 這事足足費了四十天，因為用香料包殮屍體是需要這樣長的時間。埃及人為他哀哭了七十天。
4 為他哀哭的日子過了，約瑟就對法老家裡的人說：“我若在你們面前得蒙喜悅，請你們代我稟告法老說： 5 ‘我父親曾經叫我起誓，說：“看哪，我快要死了；你要把我埋葬在迦南地，在我為自己所掘的墳墓裡。”現在求你讓我上去，埋葬我的父親，之後我必定回來。’” 6 法老說：“你可以上去，照著你父親叫你起的誓，把他埋葬。” 7 於是，約瑟上去埋葬他的父親。與他一同上去的，有法老所有的臣僕，法老家中的長老，和埃及地所有的長老， 8 還有約瑟的全家，他的兄弟們和他父親的家人；他們把孩子和牛羊留在歌珊地。 9 又有車輛和馬兵與他一同上去，成了一大隊行列。 10 他們到了約旦河東岸的亞達禾場，就在那裡大大地哀悼痛哭。約瑟為他父親舉哀七天。 11 住在那地的迦南人看見了亞達禾場的哀悼，就說：“這是埃及人一場非常傷痛的哀悼。”因此，在約旦河東岸的那地方名叫亞伯．麥西。 12 雅各的眾子就照著父親囑咐他們的去作， 13 把雅各運到迦南地，葬在麥比拉田間的洞裡。那地方在幔利的前面，是亞伯拉罕向赫人以弗崙買下來作墳地的。 14 約瑟埋葬了他父親以後，就和他的眾兄弟，以及所有與他一同上去埋葬他父親的人都回埃及去了。
Genesis 45:25-50:14
English Standard Version
25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw (A)the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt
46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to (B)Beersheba, and offered sacrifices (C)to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel (D)in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, (E)the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will (F)make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also (G)bring you up again, and (H)Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”
5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons (I)that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and (J)came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
8 (K)Now (L)these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. (M)Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, 9 and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of (N)Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of (O)Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but (P)Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of (Q)Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 (R)The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, (S)whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.
16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 (T)The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 (U)These are the sons of Zilpah, (V)whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.
19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And (W)to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of (X)On, bore to him. 21 And (Y)the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.
23 The son[a] of Dan: Hushim. 24 (Z)The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 (AA)These are the sons of Bilhah, (AB)whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.
26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. (AC)All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.
Jacob and Joseph Reunited
28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came (AD)into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and (AE)fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, (AF)“Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, (AG)“I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 (AH)And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, (AI)‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, (AJ)‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock (AK)from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell (AL)in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is (AM)an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen
47 So Joseph (AN)went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in (AO)the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and (AP)presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, (AQ)“What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, (AR)“Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, (AS)“We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell (AT)in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers (AU)in the best of the land. (AV)Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any (AW)able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”
7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, (AX)and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my (AY)sojourning are 130 years. (AZ)Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and (BA)they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their (BB)sojourning.” 10 And Jacob (BC)blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of (BD)Rameses, (BE)as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph (BF)provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.
Joseph and the Famine
13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 (BG)And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. (BH)Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” 16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? (BI)Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”
20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh's. 21 As for the people, he made servants of them[b] from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 (BJ)Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.
23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a (BK)fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; (BL)may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; (BM)the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.
27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, (BN)in the land of Goshen. (BO)And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. (BP)So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.
29 And (BQ)when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now (BR)I have found favor in your sight, (BS)put your hand under my thigh and (BT)promise to deal kindly and truly with me. (BU)Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and (BV)bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then (BW)Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.[c]
Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, (BX)“God Almighty[d] appeared to me at (BY)Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you (BZ)for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your (CA)two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, (CB)are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow (CC)Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance[e] to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, (CD)“They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that (CE)I may bless them.” 10 Now (CF)the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, (CG)and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, (CH)“I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 (CI)And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, (CJ)crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God (CK)before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 (CL)the angel who has (CM)redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let (CN)my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them (CO)grow into a multitude[f] in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father (CP)laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, (CQ)“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, (CR)his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude[g] of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
(CS)‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but (CT)God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to (CU)you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope[h] that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”
Jacob Blesses His Sons
49 (CV)Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you (CW)in days to come.
2 “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel your father.
3 “Reuben, you are (CX)my firstborn,
my might, and the (CY)firstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,
because you (CZ)went up to your father's bed;
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!
5 (DA)“Simeon and Levi are brothers;
weapons (DB)of violence are their swords.
6 Let my soul come not into their council;
(DC)O my glory, (DD)be not joined to their company.
For in their anger they killed men,
and in their willfulness they (DE)hamstrung oxen.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will (DF)divide them in Jacob
and scatter them in Israel.
8 “Judah, (DG)your brothers shall praise you;
(DH)your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
(DI)your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9 Judah is (DJ)a lion's cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
(DK)He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10 The (DL)scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff (DM)from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;[i]
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
12 His (DN)eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.
13 (DO)“Zebulun shall dwell at the (DP)shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.
14 (DQ)“Issachar is a strong donkey,
crouching between the sheepfolds.[j]
15 He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and (DR)became a servant at forced labor.
16 (DS)“Dan shall (DT)judge his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan (DU)shall be a serpent in the way,
a viper by the path,
that bites the horse's heels
so that his rider falls backward.
18 I (DV)wait for your salvation, O Lord.
20 (DY)“Asher's food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal delicacies.
22 “Joseph is (EA)a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall.[m]
23 The archers (EB)bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,
24 yet (EC)his bow remained unmoved;
his arms[n] were made agile
by the hands of the (ED)Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is (EE)the Shepherd,[o] (EF)the Stone of Israel),
25 (EG)by the God of your father who will help you,
by (EH)the Almighty[p] (EI)who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26 The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties (EJ)of the everlasting hills.[q]
May they be (EK)on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.
27 (EL)“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening (EM)dividing the spoil.”
Jacob's Death and Burial
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be (EN)gathered to my people; (EO)bury me with my fathers (EP)in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, (EQ)which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 (ER)There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There (ES)they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and (ET)was gathered to his people.
50 Then Joseph (EU)fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to (EV)embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians (EW)wept for him seventy days.
4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, (EX)“If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb (EY)that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left (EZ)in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, (FA)they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he (FB)made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;[r] it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for (FC)his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham (FD)bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
Footnotes
- Genesis 46:23 Hebrew sons
- Genesis 47:21 Samaritan, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew he removed them to the cities
- Genesis 47:31 Hebrew; Septuagint staff
- Genesis 48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai
- Genesis 48:7 Or about two hours' distance
- Genesis 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude
- Genesis 48:19 Hebrew fullness
- Genesis 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem
- Genesis 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh
- Genesis 49:14 Or between its saddlebags
- Genesis 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid
- Genesis 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold
- Genesis 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall
- Genesis 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands
- Genesis 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd
- Genesis 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai
- Genesis 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills
- Genesis 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
