1 ARST Two whole years later,{ King} Pharaoh had a dream.{ In the dream} he saw himself standing beside the{ Nile} River. BSB BSB: After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,
2 ARST Suddenly, seven healthy- looking, fat cows walked up out of the river and started eating the tall grass{ beside the river}. BSB BSB: when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
3 ARST Next he saw that seven sickly- looking, scrawny cows walked up out of the river and stood next to the{ first} cows on the river bank. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then the sickly- looking, scrawny cows devoured the seven healthy- looking, fat cows.{ Just} then Pharaoh woke up. BSB BSB: And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,
5 ARST Then he went{ back} to sleep and had a second{ dream}.{ This time} he saw seven plump, well- formed heads of grain growing on the same plant. BSB BSB: but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.
6 ARST Suddenly, seven small heads of grain that the{ hot} desert wind had dried out started growing{ on the same plant} beside the first heads. BSB BSB: After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.
7 ARST Next, the small heads of grain gobbled up the seven big, well- formed heads. At that point, Pharaoh woke up and realized that{ he had been} dreaming. BSB BSB: And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.
8 ARST The next morning Pharaoh was upset{ about the dreams}, so he had{ servants} summon all the sorcerers and{ other} scholars in{ the country of} Egypt.{ When they arrived,} he told them what he had dreamed, but none of them was able to explain to him{ what} the dreams{ meant}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then the head wine- server said to Pharaoh,“{ Sir,} today I remember{ the time} when I offended{ you}. BSB BSB: Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.
10 ARST { Some time ago,}{ King} Pharaoh, you were angry with your officials,{ including} me and the head baker, and you put us in prison at the captain of the guards’ house. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { While we were there,} one night we{ each} had a dream,{ and} each of our dreams had a different meaning. BSB BSB: One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.
12 ARST There was a young Hebrew man with us{ who was} a servant for the captain over the guards. After we told him{ our dreams}, he explained them to us. He told us what each of our dreams meant. BSB BSB: 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 ARST And sure enough, everything happened exactly the way he had explained{ the dreams} to us: you returned me to my{ former} work{ as your wine- server}, and you{ had your soldiers} execute the baker.” BSB BSB: And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”
14 ARST { When Pharaoh heard that,}{ immediately} he had{ servants} summon Joseph. So they went right away and got him out of the prison. Then after he shaved{ his head and face} and changed into appropriate clothing, he went before Pharaoh. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then Pharaoh said to him,“I had a dream, but no one has been able to explain{ to me} what it means. But someone told me about you,{ that} when you hear a dream,{ you are able} to explain what it means.” BSB BSB: 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 ARST Joseph replied to him,“{ Sir,} I do not have that ability{ on my own},{ but} God will explain{ your dream} so that{ you,}{ King} Pharaoh, will have peace{ in your heart}.” BSB BSB: “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
17 ARST So Pharaoh told Joseph,“As I was dreaming, I saw myself standing beside the{ Nile} River. BSB BSB: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 ARST Then suddenly, seven fat, healthy- looking cows walked up out of the river{ onto the bank} and started eating the tall grass{ that was there}. BSB BSB: when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
19 ARST Suddenly seven other cows walked up{ out of the river} behind the first cows;{ they were} in terrible condition, very sickly- looking and scrawny.{ In fact,} I have never seen such awful- looking{ cows} anywhere in the land of Egypt! BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then the scrawny, sickly cows devoured the seven fat ones. BSB BSB: Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.
21 ARST But{ even} after they had swallowed them, no one would{ ever} know that they had devoured them, because they{ still} looked just as terrible as before. That’ s when I woke up. BSB BSB: 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 ARST “Then I{ went back to sleep and} had{ another} dream.{ This time} I saw that there were seven big, well- formed heads of grain growing on the same plant. BSB BSB: In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.
23 ARST Then suddenly, seven small heads of grain sprouted{ on the same plant} next to the first heads.{ These had} wilted because the{ hot} desert wind had dried them out. BSB BSB: After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.
24 ARST Then the small heads of grain gobbled up the seven well- formed ones. I told{ my dreams} to{ my} sorcerers, but none of them could explain to me{ what the dreams meant}.” BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then Joseph told{ King} Pharaoh,“{ Your Majesty,}{ both of} your dreams mean the same thing.{ Through them,} God is revealing to you what he is going to do. BSB BSB: 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 ARST The seven healthy cows{ represent} seven years, and the seven well- formed heads of grain{ represent}{ the same} seven years.{ Both} dreams mean the same thing. BSB BSB: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.
27 ARST The seven scrawny and sickly cows that walked up{ out of the river} behind the first cows{ represent}{ a different} seven years, and{ so do} the seven small heads of grain that the desert wind had dried out.{ They both mean that} there will be a famine that lasts seven years. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { King} Pharaoh, that{ is} what I was talking about{ when I told} you{ that} God is revealing to you what he is going to do. BSB BSB: It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29 ARST Listen,{ first} there will be seven years when people will have more than enough food{ to eat} throughout the entire country of Egypt. BSB BSB: Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 ARST But after that, there will be a famine that lasts seven years. As a result, the people in Egypt will forget what it was like in their country during all the years when they had more than enough{ food}{ to eat}, because the famine will devastate the country{ so that many people will starve}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST That’ s right, people will completely forget about the years when there was plenty of food, because the famine{ that comes} after that{ will be} so severe. BSB BSB: The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 ARST The fact that you,{ King} Pharaoh, had two{ different} dreams that mean the same thing shows that God has decided what he is going to do, and he will make it happen soon. BSB BSB: 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 ARST “So now,{ your Majesty,} I recommend that you look for a man{ who is} intelligent and knows what to do, and put him in charge over the country of Egypt. BSB BSB: Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 ARST Sir, you should{ also} appoint{ regional} administrators in charge of the country, and{ have them} collect one- fifth of{ the crops that people harvest throughout} the country during the seven years when harvests are plentiful. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Have them collect all that{ surplus} grain during the prosperous years ahead{ when there will be plenty of food}. Using your authority,{ King} Pharaoh, have them stockpile{ that} grain{ in storehouses} in the cities and{ have soldiers} guard it, so that there will be food{ for the people}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST That food should stay in storage for{ the people of} the country{ to eat} during the famine that will last seven years in the country of Egypt, so that they will not starve to death because of the severe lack of food.” 41:37-57 BSB BSB: 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 ARST What Joseph proposed seemed like a good plan to Pharaoh and all his officials. BSB BSB: This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.
38 ARST So Pharaoh exclaimed to them,“{ Certainly} we cannot find anyone else more qualified than this man whom God’ s Spirit guides!” BSB BSB: So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
39 ARST Then he said to Joseph,“Since God has made all this known to you, no one{ else} is{ as} intelligent as you{ are} or knows what to do{ in this situation}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { So} I am putting you in charge of my household{ and my kingdom}, so that all the people in my country must obey whatever you command. Only I who am king will have higher authority than you.” BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then Pharaoh said,“Listen, I hereby put you in charge of the whole country of Egypt.” BSB BSB: Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”
42 ARST Then he took off his{ official} identification ring and put it on Joseph’ s finger{ to show that he had appointed him}. He{ also} gave Joseph{ expensive} linen clothes to wear and put a chain{ made} of gold around his neck. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then Pharaoh had Joseph ride{ around} in the chariot that showed he was the second highest ruler in the country.{ As he rode,} messengers{ walked}{ in the road} ahead of him calling out{ to everyone},“Make way!” In that way, Pharaoh{ officially} appointed Joseph to be in charge of the whole country of Egypt. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Pharaoh{ also} told Joseph,“I, Pharaoh,{ hereby command} that throughout the whole country of Egypt, everyone must only do what you tell them to do!” BSB BSB: 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 ARST Then Pharaoh gave Joseph the{ Egyptian} name Zaphenath- Paneah,{ which means“the one who explains/ reveals secrets,”} and he gave him{ a woman named} Asenath to be{ his} wife.{ She was} the daughter of Potiphera,{ who was} a priest{ at the temple} in{ the city of} On. Then Joseph{ started his duties and} traveled throughout the country of Egypt. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Joseph{ was} thirty years old when he{ started} serving Pharaoh, the king over Egypt.{ After Pharaoh appointed him,} Joseph left him and traveled throughout the whole country of Egypt{ doing his work}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST During the seven years when food was plentiful, the land produced huge amounts of grain. BSB BSB: During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.
48 ARST So Joseph{ had his helpers} collect all the{ surplus} grain{ that people harvested} during{ those} seven years in the country of Egypt, and he{ had them} stockpile{ that} grain in the cities. In each city he{ had them} store the grain{ that people harvested} from the surrounding fields. BSB BSB: 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 ARST In that way, Joseph stockpiled so much grain that it was as{ plentiful as} the{ grains of} sand on the seashore.{ In fact,} it was so plentiful that he stopped keeping records{ of it} because it was too much to keep track of. BSB BSB: 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 ARST Before the{ seven} famine years started, Joseph had two sons with{ his wife} Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera,{ who was} a priest in{ the city of} On. BSB BSB: Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
51 ARST Joseph named{ his} oldest{ son} Manasseh,{ which means“forget,”}{ and he explained,}“{ It is} because God has helped me to forget{ about} all my troubles and about{ how much I have missed} my father and the rest of my family{ back home}.” BSB BSB: Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”
52 ARST And he named{ his} second son Ephraim,{ which means“twice prosperous,”}{ and he explained,}“{ It is} because God has helped me to prosper in the country where I have suffered{ so much}.” BSB BSB: And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
53 ARST Finally the seven years were over when food was plentiful in the country of Egypt. BSB BSB: When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,
54 ARST Then the seven years began when there was a severe lack of food, which is exactly what Joseph had predicted{ would happen}. The famine spread to every country, but throughout the whole country of Egypt there was{ still} food{ in the storehouses}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST When everyone in Egypt became very hungry{ because of the famine}, they begged{ King} Pharaoh for food. So he commanded them,“Go ask Joseph{ for help},{ and} do whatever he commands you{ to do}.” BSB BSB: 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 ARST Since the severe food shortage was affecting the whole country, Joseph{ had his helpers} open up all the storehouses{ full of grain}, and he started selling{ the grain} to the people of Egypt. Then the famine became worse{ and worse} throughout the country of Egypt. BSB BSB: 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.