Chuàngshìjì 40

1 Zhè shì yǐhòu , Āijí wáng de jiǔ zhèng hé shàn cháng de zuì le tāmende zhǔ Āijí wáng ,

2 Fǎlǎo jiù nǎonù jiǔ zhèng hé shàn cháng zhè èr chén ,

3 Bǎ tāmen xià zaì hùwèi cháng fǔ neì de jiānlǐ , jiù shì Yūesè beì qiú de dìfang .

4 Hùwèi cháng bǎ tāmen jiāo gĕi Yūesè , Yūesè biàn cìhou tāmen . tāmen yǒu xiē rìzi zaì jiānlǐ .

5 Beì qiú zaì jiàn zhī Āijí wáng de jiǔ zhèng hé shàn cháng èr rén tóng yè gè zuò yī mèng , gè mèng dōu yǒu jiǎngjiĕ .

6 Dào le zǎochen , Yūesè jìn dào tāmen nàli , jiàn tāmen yǒu chóumèn de yàngzi .

7 Tā biàn wèn fǎlǎo de èr chén , jiù shì yǔ tā tóng qiú zaì tā zhǔrén fǔ lǐ de , shuō , tāmen jīnrì wèishénme miàn daì chóuróng ne ,

8 Tāmen duì tā shuō , wǒmen gèrén zuò le yī mèng , méiyǒu rén néng jiè . Yūesè shuō , jiè mèng bú shì chūyú shén ma . qǐng nǐmen jiāng mèng gàosu wǒ .

9 Jiǔ zhèng biàn jiàng tāde mèng gàosu Yūesè shuō , wǒ mèng jiàn zaì wǒ miànqián yǒu yī kē pútàoshù ,

10 Shù shàng yǒu sān gēn zhīzǐ , hǎoxiàng fā le yá , kāi le huā , shàng tóu de pútào dōu chéng shú le .

11 Fǎlǎo de bēi zaì wǒ shǒu zhōng , wǒ jiù ná pútào jǐ zaì fǎlǎo de bēi lǐ , jiāng bēi dì zaì tā shǒu zhōng .

12 Yūesè duì tā shuō , tā suǒ zuò de mèng shì zhèyàng jiè , sān gēn zhīzǐ jiù shì sān tiān .

13 Sān tiān zhī neì , fǎlǎo bì tí nǐ chū jiàn , jiào nǐ guān fù yuán zhí , nǐ réng yào dì bēi zaì fǎlǎo de shǒu zhōng , hé xiānqián zuò tāde jiǔ zhèng yíyàng .

14 Dàn nǐ de hǎo chù de shíhou , qiú nǐ jìniàn wǒ , shī ēn yǔ wǒ , zaì fǎlǎo miànqián tí shuō wǒ , jiù wǒ chū zhè jiàn laó .

15 Wǒ shízaì shì cóng Xībólái rén zhī dì beì guǎi lái de . wǒ zaì zhèlǐ yĕ méiyǒu zuò guò shénme , jiào tāmen bǎ wǒ xià zaì jiānlǐ .

16 Shàn cháng jiàn mèng jiè de hǎo , jiù duì Yūesè shuō , wǒ zaì mèng zhōng jiàn wǒ tóu shàng dǐng zhe sān kuāng bái bǐng .

17 Jí shàng de kuāngzi lǐ yǒu wèi fǎlǎo kǎo de gèyàng shíwù , yǒu fēiniǎo lái chī wǒ tóu shàng kuāngzi lǐ de shíwù .

18 Yūesè shuō , nǐde mèng shì zhèyàng jiè , sān gè kuāngzi jiù shì sān tiān .

19 Sān tiān zhī neì , fǎlǎo bì zhǎn duàn nǐde tóu , bǎ nǐ guà zaì mùtou shàng , bì yǒu fēiniǎo lái chī nǐ shēnshang de ròu .

20 Dào le dì sān tiān , shì fǎlǎo de shēngri , tā wèi zhòng chénpú shè bǎi yánxí , bǎ jiǔ zhèng hé shàn cháng tíchū jiàn lái ,

21 Shǐ jiǔ zhèng guān fù yuán zhí , tā réngjiù dì bēi zaì fǎlǎo shǒu zhōng .

22 Dàn bǎ shàn cháng guà qǐlai , zhēng rú Yūesè xiàng tāmen suǒ jiè de huà .

23 Jiǔ zhèng què bù jìniàn Yūesè , jìng wàng le tā .

Chuàngshìjì 40 Commentary

Chapter 40

The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison, Their dreams interpreted by Joseph. (1-19) The ingratitude of the chief butler. (20-23)

Verses 1-19 It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Joseph was careful to ascribe the glory to God. The chief butler's dream foretold his advancement. The chief baker's dream his death. It was not Joseph's fault that he brought the baker no better tidings. And thus ministers are but interpreters; they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is: if they deal faithfully, and their message prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Joseph does not reflect upon his brethren that sold him; nor does he reflect on the wrong done him by his mistress and his master, but mildly states his own innocence. When we are called on to clear ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not upbraid others with their guilt.

Verses 20-23 Joseph's interpretation of the dreams came to pass on the very day fixed. On Pharaoh's birth-day, all his servants attended him, and then the cases of these two came to be looked into. We may all profitably take notice of our birth-days, with thankfulness for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of our lives, and expectation of the day of our death, as better than the day of our birth. But it seems strange that worldly people, who are so fond of living here, should rejoice at the end of one year after another of their short span of life. A Christian has cause to rejoice that he was born, also that he comes nearer to the end of his sin and sorrow, and nearer to his everlasting happiness. The chief butler remembered not Joseph, but forgot him. Joseph had deserved well at his hands, yet he forgot him. We must not think it strange, if in this world we have hatred shown us for our love, and slights for our kindness. See how apt those who are themselves at ease are to forget others in distress. Joseph learned by his disappointment to trust in God only. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. Let us not forget the sufferings, promises, and love of our Redeemer. We blame the chief butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we ourselves act much more ungratefully to the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought out ours; he mediated with the King of Kings for us; yet we forget him, though often reminded of him, and though we have promised never to forget him. Thus ill do we requite Him, like foolish people and unwise.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 40

The history of this chapter is, the imprisonment of two of Pharaoh's officers, his chief butler and chief baker, who by the captain of the guard were made the charge of Joseph, Ge 40:1-4; they both dreamed in prison, which made them sad; Joseph taking notice of their sadness, asked the reason of it, and encouraged them to tell him their dreams, Ge 40:5-8; the chief butler told his dream of the vine and three branches, which Joseph interpreted of his restoration to his office within three days, and desired him to remember him unto Pharaoh when he stood before him, telling him his case, Ge 40:9-15; then the chief baker told his dream of three white baskets of food on his head, which the birds ate, and this Joseph interpreted of his being hanged within three days, Ge 40:16-19; and the events answered to the interpretation, but Joseph was forgot by the chief butler, Ge 40:20-23.