The Dreams of Pharaoh 1 UEB It came about at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream. Behold, he stood by the Nile. BSB BSB: After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,
2 UEB Behold, seven cows came up out of the Nile, desirable and fat, and they grazed in the reeds. BSB BSB: when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
3 UEB Behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, undesirable and thin. They stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. 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 UEB Then the undesirable and thin cows ate the seven desirable and fat cows. 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 UEB Then he slept and dreamed a second time. Behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, wholesome and good. 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 UEB Behold, seven heads, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. BSB BSB: After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.
7 UEB The thin heads swallowed up the seven wholesome and full heads. Pharaoh woke up, and, behold, it was a dream. 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 UEB It came about in the morning that his spirit was troubled. He sent and called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. 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 UEB Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am thinking about my offenses. BSB BSB: Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.
10 UEB Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, the chief baker and me. 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 UEB We dreamed a dream the same night, he and I. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. BSB BSB: One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.
12 UEB There was with us there a young Hebrew man, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him and he interpreted for us our dreams. He interpreted for each of us according to his dream. 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 UEB It came about as he interpreted for us, so it happened. Pharaoh restored me to my post, but the other one he hanged." BSB BSB: And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams 14 UEB Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph. They quickly took him out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came in to 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 UEB Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, but there is no interpreter for it. But I have heard about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 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 UEB Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me. God will answer Pharaoh with favor." BSB BSB: “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
17 UEB Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood on the bank of the Nile. BSB BSB: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 UEB Behold, seven cows came up out of the Nile, fat and desirable, and they grazed among the reeds. BSB BSB: when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
19 UEB Behold, seven other cows came up after them, weak, very undesirable, and thin. I never saw in all the land of Egypt such undesirableness like them. 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 UEB The thin and undesirable cows ate up the first seven fat cows. BSB BSB: Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.
21 UEB When they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them, for they were still as undesirable as before. Then I awoke. 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 UEB I looked in my dream, and, behold, seven heads came up upon one stalk, full and good. BSB BSB: In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.
23 UEB Behold, seven more heads—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind—sprang up after them. BSB BSB: After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.
24 UEB The thin heads swallowed up the seven good heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but there was none that could explain it to me." 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 UEB Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are the same. What God is about to do, he has declared to Pharaoh. 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 UEB The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams are the same. 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 UEB The seven thin and undesirable cows that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven thin heads scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. 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 UEB That is the thing which I spoke to Pharaoh. What God is about to do he has revealed to Pharaoh. BSB BSB: It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29 UEB Look, seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 UEB Seven years of famine will come after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will devastate the land. 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 UEB The abundance will not be remembered in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. BSB BSB: The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 UEB That the dream was repeated to Pharaoh is because the matter has been established by God, and God will soon do it. 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 UEB Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and put him over the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 UEB Let Pharaoh appoint officials over the land, and let them take a fifth of the crops of Egypt in the seven abundant years. 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 UEB Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, for food to be used in the cities. They should preserve it. 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 UEB The food will be a supply for the land for the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt. In this way the land will not be devastated by the famine." 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.”
Joseph Given Charge of Egypt 37 UEB This advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. BSB BSB: This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.
38 UEB Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a man as this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" BSB BSB: So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
39 UEB So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you. 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 UEB You will be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater 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 UEB Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have put you over all the land of Egypt." BSB BSB: Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”
42 UEB Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand. He clothed him with clothes of fine linen, and put a gold chain on 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 UEB He had him ride in the second chariot which he possessed. Men shouted before him, "Bend the knee." Pharaoh put him over all the land 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 UEB Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and apart from you, no man will lift his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt." 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 UEB Pharaoh called Joseph's name "Zaphenath-Paneah." He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as a wife. Joseph went out over the land 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.
The Seven Years of Plenty 46 UEB Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 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 UEB In the seven bountiful years the land produced abundantly. BSB BSB: During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.
48 UEB He gathered up all the food of the seven years that was in the land of Egypt and put the food in the cities. He put into each city the food from the fields that surrounded it. 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 UEB Joseph stored up grain like the sand of the sea, so much that he stopped counting, because it was beyond counting. 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 UEB Joseph had two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. BSB BSB: Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
51 UEB Joseph called the name of his firstborn Manasseh, for he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." BSB BSB: Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”
52 UEB He called the name of the second son Ephraim, for he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." BSB BSB: And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
The Famine Begins 53 UEB The seven years of abundance that was in the land of Egypt came to an end. BSB BSB: When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,
54 UEB The seven years of famine began, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was food. 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 UEB When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people loudly called on Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he says." 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 UEB The famine was over all the face of the whole land. Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land 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.