39:1. And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar, an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.
39:2. And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master"s house:
39:3. Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
39:4. And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him:
39:5. And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph"s sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home and in the fields.
39:6. Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold.
39:7. And after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie with me.
39:8. But he in no wise consenting to that wicked act said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house:
39:9. Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife; how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my G.o.d?
39:10. With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.
39:11. Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business, without any man with him:
39:12. And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.
39:13. And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded,
39:14. She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See, he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with me; and when I cried out,
39:15. And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got him out.
39:16. For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home:
A proof of her fidelity... or an argument to gain credit, argumentum fidei.
39:17. And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me.
39:18. And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out.
39:19. His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife"s words, was very angry,
39:20. And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king"s prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up.
39:21. But the Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison:
39:22. Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done, was under him.
39:23. Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper.
Genesis Chapter 40
Joseph interpreteth the dreams of two of Pharao"s servants in prison: the event declareth the interpretations to be true, but Joseph is forgotten.
40:1. After this, it came to pa.s.s, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.
40:2. And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler, the other chief baker,)
40:3. He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in which Joseph also was prisoner.
40:4. But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time pa.s.sed, and they were kept in custody.
40:5. And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the interpretation agreeing to themselves:
40:6. And when Joseph was come into them in the morning, and saw them sad,
40:7. He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than usual?
40:8. They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is n.o.body to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation belong to G.o.d? Tell me what you have dreamed:
Doth not interpretation belong to G.o.d?... When dreams are from G.o.d, as these were, the interpretation of them is a gift of G.o.d. But the generality of dreams are not of this sort; but either proceed from the natural complexions and dispositions of persons, or the roving of their imaginations in the day on such objects as they are much affected with, or from their mind being disturbed with cares and troubles, and oppressed with bodily infirmities: or they are suggested by evil spirits, to flatter, or to terrify weak minds, in order to gain belief, and so draw them into error or superst.i.tion; or at least to trouble them in their sleep, whom they cannot move when they are awake: so that the general rule, with regard to dreams, is not to observe them, nor to give any credit to them.
40:9. The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,
40:10. On which were three branches, which by little and little sent out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes:
40:11. And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.
40:12. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches, are yet three days:
40:13. After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore thee to thy former place: and thou shalt present him the cup according to thy office, as before thou was wont to do.
40:14. Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me this kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison:
40:15. For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here without any fault was cast into the dungeon.
40:16. The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream, said: I also dreamed a dream, That I had three baskets of meal upon my head:
40:17. And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.
40:18. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three baskets, are yet three days:
40:19. After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee on a cross, and the birds shall tear thy flesh.
40:20. The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief butler, and the chief baker.
40:21. And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup:
40:22. The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn.
40:23. But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter.