Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:^(A) He was standing by the Nile,^{(B) 2} when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,^(C) and they grazed among the reeds.^{(D) 3} After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. ⁴ And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.^(E)

⁵ He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,^(F) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. ⁶ After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.^{(G) 7} The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;^(H) it had been a dream.

⁸ In the morning his mind was troubled,^(I) so he sent for all the magicians^(J) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.^(K)

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.^{(L) 10} Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,^(M) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.^{(N) 11} Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.^{(O) 12} Now a young Hebrew^(P) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.^(Q) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.^{(R) 13} And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.^(S)”

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.^(T) When he had shaved^(U) and changed his clothes,^(V) he came before Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.^(W) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”^(X)

¹⁶ “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”^(Y)

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,^{(Z) 18} when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.^{(AA) 19} 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 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. ²¹ 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 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. ²³ After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. ²⁴ 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.^(AB)”

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.^(AC) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.^{(AD) 26} The seven good cows^(AE) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. ²⁷ 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.^(AF)

²⁸ “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.^{(AG) 29} Seven years of great abundance^(AH) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, ³⁰ but seven years of famine^(AI) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.^{(AJ) 31} The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. ³² The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided^(AK) by God, and God will do it soon.^(AL)

³³ “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man^(AM) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.^{(AN) 34} Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners^(AO) over the land to take a fifth^(AP) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.^{(AQ) 35} 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.^{(AR) 36} This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,^(AS) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

³⁷ The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.^{(AT) 38} So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God^[a]?”^(AU)

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,^(AV) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.^{(AW) 40} You shall be in charge of my palace,^(AX) and all my people are to submit to your orders.^(AY) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.^(AZ)”

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”^{(BA) 42} Then Pharaoh took his signet ring^(BB) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes^(BC) of fine linen^(BD) and put a gold chain around his neck.^{(BE) 43} He had him ride in a chariot^(BF) as his second-in-command,^[b](BG) and people shouted before him, “Make way^[c]!”^(BH) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.^(BI)

⁴⁴ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”^{(BJ) 45} Pharaoh gave Joseph^(BK) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest^(BL) of On,^[d](BM) to be his wife.^(BN) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old^(BO) when he entered the service^(BP) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance^(BQ) the land produced plentifully. ⁴⁸ Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.^(BR) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. ⁴⁹ Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;^(BS) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

⁵⁰ Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.^{(BT) 51} Joseph named his firstborn^(BU) Manasseh^[e](BV) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” ⁵² The second son he named Ephraim^[f](BW) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful^(BX) in the land of my suffering.”

⁵³ The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine^(BY) began,^(BZ) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. ⁵⁵ When all Egypt began to feel the famine,^(CA) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”^(CB)

⁵⁶ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,^(CC) for the famine^(CD) was severe throughout Egypt.^{(CE) 57} And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,^(CF) because the famine was severe everywhere.^(CG)

Psalm 66

For the director of music. A song. A psalm.

The Nature of True Apostleship

4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants^(A) of Christ and as those entrusted^(B) with the mysteries^(C) God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. ³ I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ My conscience^(D) is clear, but that does not make me innocent.^(E) It is the Lord who judges me.^{(F) 5} Therefore judge nothing^(G) before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.^(H) He will bring to light^(I) what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.^(J)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”^(K) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.^{(L) 7} For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?^(M) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!^(N) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! ⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die^(O) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle^(P) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ,^(Q) but you are so wise in Christ!^(R) We are weak, but you are strong!^(S) You are honored, we are dishonored! ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.^{(T) 12} We work hard with our own hands.^(U) When we are cursed, we bless;^(V) when we are persecuted,^(W) we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage^(X) of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

¹⁴ I am writing this not to shame you^(Y) but to warn you as my dear children.^{(Z) 15} Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father^(AA) through the gospel.^{(AB) 16} Therefore I urge you to imitate me.^{(AC) 17} For this reason I have sent to you^(AD) Timothy,^(AE) my son^(AF) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.^(AG)

¹⁸ Some of you have become arrogant,^(AH) as if I were not coming to you.^{(AI) 19} But I will come to you very soon,^(AJ) if the Lord is willing,^(AK) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of^(AL) talk but of power.^{(AM) 21} What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,^(AN) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Dealing With a Case of Incest

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.^{(AO) 2} And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning^(AP) and have put out of your fellowship^(AQ) the man who has been doing this? ³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.^(AR) As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus^(AS) on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over^(AT) to Satan^(AU) for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.^(AV)

⁶ Your boasting is not good.^(AW) Don’t you know that a little yeast^(AX) leavens the whole batch of dough?^{(AY) 7} Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.^{(AZ) 8} Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread^(BA) of sincerity and truth.

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate^(BB) with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰ not at all meaning the people of this world^(BC) who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister^[c](BD) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater^(BE) or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.^(BF)

¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside^(BG) the church? Are you not to judge those inside?^{(BH) 13} God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[d](BI)

Lawsuits Among Believers

6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?^{(BJ) 2} Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?^(BK) And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? ³ Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ⁴ Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? ⁵ I say this to shame you.^(BL) Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?^{(BM) 6} But instead, one brother^(BN) takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!^(BO)

⁷ The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?^{(BP) 8} Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.^{(BQ) 9} Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?^(BR) Do not be deceived:^(BS) Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers^(BT) nor men who have sex with men^{[e](BU) 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers^(BV) will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were.^(BW) But you were washed,^(BX) you were sanctified,^(BY) you were justified^(BZ) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Immorality

¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(CA) “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. ¹³ You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”^(CB) The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord,^(CC) and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ By his power God raised the Lord from the dead,^(CD) and he will raise us also.^{(CE) 15} Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?^(CF) Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”^{[f](CG) 17} But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.^[g](CH)

¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality.^(CI) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.^{(CJ) 19} Do you not know that your bodies are temples^(CK) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;^{(CL) 20} you were bought at a price.^(CM) Therefore honor God with your bodies.^(CN)