Genesis 41 Parallel Bible Translations

Genesis 41 ▼
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1 Two years later—to the day—Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,
2 when all of a sudden seven healthy, plump cows emerged from the Nile to graze in the grass that grew in the reeds that lined the bank. and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.
3 Right after that, seven more cows came up out of the Nile. Ugly and gaunt, they stood next to the other cows on the bank of the Nile River. And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.
4 But all of a sudden they ate up the seven healthy, plump cows! Then Pharaoh woke up. And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 After he had fallen back to sleep, he had a second dream, in which seven ears of plump, fruit-filled grain grew up on a single stalk. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.
6 Suddenly seven thin ears of grain that had been scorched by an east wind sprouted up right after them And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.
7 and ate up the seven plump, fruit-filled ears. Then Pharaoh woke up a second time, and it had been a very vivid dream! And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8 The very next morning, he was frustrated about the dream, so he sent word to summon all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them what he had dreamed, but no one could interpret them. So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9 Then Pharaoh's senior security advisor spoke up. |Maybe I should make a confession. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.
10 When Pharaoh was angry with some of his servants, he incarcerated me in custody of the captain of the bodyguard, along with Pharaoh's head chef. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.
11 We each had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.
12 There was a Hebrew young man incarcerated with us, who was also working as a servant to the captain of the bodyguard. |We each related our dreams, and then he interpreted them for us. He provided specific meanings for each of our dreams. A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 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, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.
13 And what he interpreted for each of us came true! Pharaoh restored me to my responsibilities, but he executed the other man.| And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.” And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”
14 Pharoah sent word to summon Joseph quickly from the dungeon, so they shaved his beard, changed his clothes, and then sent him straight to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 |I've had a dream,| Pharaoh told Joseph, |but nobody can interpret it. I've heard that you can interpret dreams.| And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 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 |I can't do that,| Joseph replied, |but God is concerned about Pharaoh's well-being.| Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
17 So Pharaoh told Joseph, |In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
18 and all of a sudden seven healthy, plump, beautiful cows emerged from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds that line the bank. Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.
19 Just then, seven other cows emerged after them, poor, ugly, and appearing very gaunt in their flesh. I've never seen anything as ugly as those cows anywhere in the entire land of Egypt! Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.
20 But those thin, gaunt cows gobbled up the first seven healthy cows! And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.
21 Not only that,| Pharaoh continued, |after they had finished devouring the cows, nobody could tell that they had gobbled them up, because they were just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 Later, I also dreamed about seven plump, fruit-filled ears of grain that grew up out of a single stalk. I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.
23 All of a sudden, seven thin, withered ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.
24 But the thin ears gobbled up the seven good ears. I told all this to my advisors, but nobody was able to explain it to me.| and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
25 |Pharaoh's dreams are identical,| Joseph replied. |God has told Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. Then 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 The seven healthy cows represent seven years, as do the seven healthy ears. The dreams are identical. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.
27 The seven gaunt cows that arose after the healthy cows are seven years, as are the seven gaunt ears scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine. The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28 So the message that I have for Pharaoh is that God is telling Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do. It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29 Be advised that seven years of phenomenal abundance are coming throughout all the land of Egypt, There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30 but after them seven years of famine are ahead, during which all of the abundance will be forgotten throughout the land of Egypt. The famine will ravage the land so severely that but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
31 there will be no surplus in the land due to the coming famine, because it will be very severe. and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32 |Now since Pharaoh had that dream twice, it means that this event has been scheduled by God, and God will bring it to pass very soon. And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33 Therefore let Pharaoh select a wise, discerning person to place in charge over the land of Egypt. Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34 Also, let Pharaoh immediately proceed to appoint supervisors over the land of Egypt, who will collect one fifth of its agricultural production during the coming seven years of abundance. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
35 Let them collect all the food during the coming fruitful years, store up the grain in cities governed by Pharaoh's authority, and place it under guard. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.
36 Let the food be kept in reserve to feed the land for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout Egypt, so the people don't die during the famine.| That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 What Joseph proposed pleased Pharaoh and all of his advisors, This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.
38 so Pharaoh asked his servants, |Can we find anyone else like this—someone in whom the Spirit of God lives? And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
39 Since God has revealed all of this to you,| Pharaoh told Joseph, |there is no one so wise and discerning as you. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
40 So you are to be appointed in charge over my palace, and all of my people are to do whatever you command them to do. Only the throne will have greater authority than you.| You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
41 |Look!| Pharaoh confirmed to Joseph, |I've put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt!| And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”
42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand, placed it on Joseph's hand, had him clothed in fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43 Then he provided him with a chariot as his second-in-command, outfitted with a group of people who shouted out in front of him, |Bow your knees!| And that's how Pharaoh set Joseph over the entire land of Egypt. And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Pharaoh also told Joseph, |I'm still Pharaoh, but without your permission nobody in all of the land of Egypt will so much as lift up their hands or take a step!| Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”
45 Pharaoh also changed Joseph's name to Zaphenath-paneah and gave Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, to him as his wife. And that's how Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by traveling throughout the land of Egypt, independent from Pharaoh's oversight. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.
47 While bumper crops grew during the seven abundant years, During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.
48 Joseph collected the surplus food throughout the land of Egypt, storing food in cities; that is, he gathered the food from fields that surrounded every city and stored it there. and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.
49 Joseph stored up so much grain—like sand on the seashore in so much abundance!—that he stopped keeping records because it was proving to be impossible to measure how much they were gathering. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine arrived, Joseph fathered two sons with Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
51 Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh because, he said, |God has made me forget all of my hard life and my father's house.| Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”
52 He named his second son Ephraim because, he said, |God has made me fruitful in the land of my troubles.| The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
53 As soon as the seven years of abundance throughout the land of Egypt ended, The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,
54 the seven years of famine started, just as Joseph had predicted. It was an international famine, but there was food everywhere throughout the land of Egypt. and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
55 Eventually, the land of Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, so the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. |Go see Joseph,| Pharaoh announced to all the Egyptians, |and do whatever he tells you to do.| When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
56 Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was beginning to be severe throughout the land of Egypt. So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt.
57 In addition, all of the surrounding nations came to Joseph to buy grain from Egypt, because the famine had become severe throughout the world. Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.
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