sin, bad companions, and impure things. “My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them! If they shall say, ‘Come with us, walk not thou with them!” (Prov. 1, 10 &c.) Say every day a Hail Mary for the preservation of your innocence.
Chapter XX.
JOSEPH IN PRISON.
[Gen. 39, 21 — 40.]
JOSEPH was now pining in prison, among criminals. But even here God did not abandon him, and caused him to find favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, who gave him charge of all the prisoners. Amongst these were the chief butler [1] and the chief baker[2] of Pharao, accused of treason against their king. After some time, they both, on the same night, had a dream which perplexed them and made them sad.
Joseph, perceiving their sadness, asked them[3], saying: “Why is your countenance sadder to-day than usual?” They answered: “We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us.” Joseph said to them: “Doth not interpretation belong to God?[4] Tell me what you have dreamed.”
The chief butler first told his dream: “I saw before me a vine on which were three branches which by little and little sent out buds; and afterwards the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes. 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.”
Joseph answered: “This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches are yet three days, after which Pharao will restore thee to thy former place, and thou shalt present him the cup as before. 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!”
- ↑ Chief butler. This was the name given to that officer in the king’s court whose duty it was to examine and pour out the wine which the king drank.
- ↑ Chief baker. The duty of the chief baker was to bake the bread for the king, and, above all, to examine it, before the king ate it.
- ↑ Asked them. Full of sympathy for their trouble.
- ↑ Belong to God. By this Joseph meant: “Only those dreams which are sent by God have any special meaning, and God alone can interpret such dreams.”
