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Genesis 41
The Message
Genesis 41
The Message
41 1-4 Two years passed and Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile River. Seven cows came up out of the Nile, all shimmering with health, and grazed on the marsh grass. Then seven other cows, all skin and bones, came up out of the river after them and stood by them on the bank of the Nile. The skinny cows ate the seven healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5-7 He went back to sleep and dreamed a second time: Seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, grew out of a single stalk. Then seven more ears grew up, but these were thin and dried out by the east wind. The thin ears swallowed up the full, healthy ears. Then Pharaoh woke up—another dream.
8 When morning came, he was upset. He sent for all the magicians and sages of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but they couldn’t interpret them to him.
9-13 The head cupbearer then spoke up and said to Pharaoh, “I just now remembered something—I’m sorry, I should have told you this long ago. Once when Pharaoh got angry with his servants, he locked me and the head baker in the house of the captain of the guard. We both had dreams on the same night, each dream with its own meaning. It so happened that there was a young Hebrew slave there with us; he belonged to the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, each dream separately. Things turned out just as he interpreted. I was returned to my position and the head baker was impaled.”
14 Pharaoh at once sent for Joseph. They brought him on the run from the jail cell. He cut his hair, put on clean clothes, and came to Pharaoh.
15 “I dreamed a dream,” Pharaoh told Joseph. “Nobody can interpret it. But I’ve heard that just by hearing a dream you can interpret it.”
16 Joseph answered, “Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh’s mind at ease.”
17-21 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile. Seven cows, shimmering with health, came up out of the river and grazed on the marsh grass. On their heels seven more cows, all skin and bones, came up. I’ve never seen uglier cows anywhere in Egypt. Then the seven skinny, ugly cows ate up the first seven healthy cows. But you couldn’t tell by looking—after eating them up they were just as skinny and ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22-24 “In my second dream I saw seven ears of grain, full-bodied and lush, growing out of a single stalk, and right behind them, seven other ears, shriveled, thin, and dried out by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the full ears. I’ve told all this to the magicians but they can’t figure it out.”
25-27 Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s two dreams both mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh what he is going to do. The seven healthy cows are seven years and the seven healthy ears of grain are seven years—they’re the same dream. The seven sick and ugly cows that followed them up are seven years and the seven scrawny ears of grain dried out by the east wind are the same—seven years of famine.
28-32 “The meaning is what I said earlier: God is letting Pharaoh in on what he is going to do. Seven years of plenty are on their way throughout Egypt. But on their heels will come seven years of famine, leaving no trace of the Egyptian plenty. As the country is emptied by famine, there won’t be even a scrap left of the previous plenty—the famine will be total. The fact that Pharaoh dreamed the same dream twice emphasizes God’s determination to do this and do it soon.
33-36 “So, Pharaoh needs to look for a wise and experienced man and put him in charge of the country. Then Pharaoh needs to appoint managers throughout the country of Egypt to organize it during the years of plenty. Their job will be to collect all the food produced in the good years ahead and stockpile the grain under Pharaoh’s authority, storing it in the towns for food. This grain will be held back to be used later during the seven years of famine that are coming on Egypt. This way the country won’t be devastated by the famine.”
37 This seemed like a good idea to Pharaoh and his officials.
38 Then Pharaoh said to his officials, “Isn’t this the man we need? Are we going to find anyone else who has God’s spirit in him like this?”
39-40 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You’re the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom. From now on, you’re in charge of my affairs; all my people will report to you. Only as king will I be over you.”
41-43 So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger and slipped it on Joseph’s hand. He outfitted him in robes of the best linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He put the second-in-command chariot at his disposal, and as he rode people shouted “Bravo!”
Joseph was in charge of the entire country of Egypt.
44 Pharaoh told Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but no one in Egypt will make a single move without your stamp of approval.”
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-Paneah (God Speaks and He Lives). He also gave him an Egyptian wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On (Heliopolis).
And Joseph took up his duties over the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he went to work for Pharaoh the king of Egypt. As soon as Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he began his work in Egypt.
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47-49 During the next seven years of plenty the land produced bumper crops. Joseph gathered up the food of the seven good years in Egypt and stored the food in cities. In each city he stockpiled surplus from the surrounding fields. Joseph collected so much grain—it was like the sand of the ocean!—that he finally quit keeping track.
50-52 Joseph had two sons born to him before the years of famine came. Asenath, daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, was their mother. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (Forget), saying, “God made me forget all my hardships and my parental home.” He named his second son Ephraim (Double Prosperity), saying, “God has prospered me in the land of my sorrow.”
53-54 Then Egypt’s seven good years came to an end and the seven years of famine arrived, just as Joseph had said. All countries experienced famine; Egypt was the only country that had bread.
55 When the famine spread throughout Egypt, the people called out in distress to Pharaoh, calling for bread. He told the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you.”
56-57 As the famine got worse all over the country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold emergency supplies to the Egyptians. The famine was very bad. Soon the whole world was coming to buy supplies from Joseph. The famine was bad all over.
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Genesis 41
New International Version
Genesis 41
New International Version
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)
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
- Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot
- Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
- Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
- Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget.
- Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful.
Битие 41
Библия, нов превод от оригиналните езици (с неканоничните книги)
Битие 41
Библия, нов превод от оригиналните езици (с неканоничните книги)
41 Две години по-късно фараонът сънува, че стои край Нил 2 и ето от реката излязоха седем крави, хубави и тлъсти, и пасяха в тръстиката; 3 след тях от реката излязоха други седем крави, грозни и мършави, и се смесиха с другите крави на речния бряг; 4 грозните и мършави крави изядоха седемте хубави и тлъсти крави. В този момент фараонът се събуди, 5 но пак заспа. И сънува този път как седем пълни и хубави класове израснаха на едно стъбло; 6 но ето след тях израснаха седем празни и изсушени от източния вятър класове; 7 и празните класове погълнаха седемте тлъсти и пълни класове. Тогава фараонът се събуди и разбра, че отново беше сънувал. 8 На сутринта фараонът беше смутен и изпрати да повикат всички египетски пророци и мъдреци. Разказа им съня си, но никой не го изтълкува. 9 Тогава главният виночерпец каза на фараона: „Сега си спомням задължението си; 10 когато фараонът се беше разгневил на мене и главния хлебар и ни хвърли в тъмницата в дома на началника на затвора, 11 там аз и хлебарят сънувахме в една нощ различни сънища; 12 с нас беше и един млад евреин, роб на началника на охраната. Ние му разказахме какво сме сънували и той изтълкува съня на всеки от нас; 13 каквото ни каза, се сбъдна: аз бях възстановен на своето място, а другият беше обесен.“ 14 Тогава фараонът изпрати да повикат Йосиф. Изведоха го бързо от тъмницата, той се обръсна, преоблече се и дойде при фараона. 15 Фараонът каза на Йосиф: „Сънувах и няма кой да изтълкува съня ми, а за тебе съм слушал, че можеш да тълкуваш сънища.“ 16 (A)Йосиф отговори на фараона: „Не аз, а Бог за доброто на фараона ще даде отговор.“ 17 И фараонът каза на Йосиф: „Сънувах, че стоя на брега на реката 18 и ето от реката излязоха седем тлъсти и хубави крави и пасяха в тръстиката; 19 а след тях излязоха други седем крави, слаби, много грозни и мършави – никъде в цял Египет не бях виждал толкова грозни крави. 20 Занемарените и мършави крави изядоха първите седем угоени крави. 21 Тлъстите бяха погълнати, но по нищо не личеше, че бяха в стомасите на слабите. Те бяха все тъй мършави, както и преди това. И аз се събудих. 22 После сънувах, че на едно стъбло израснаха седем пълни и хубави класове; 23 но ето след тях израснаха седем тънки, празни и изсушени от източния вятър класове, 24 които погълнаха седемте хубави класове. Аз разказах това на мъдреците, но никой не ми го изтълкува.“ 25 Тогава Йосиф рече на фараона: „Сънят е един и с него Бог иска да съобщи на фараона какво ще стори. 26 Седемте хубави крави са седем години и седемте хубави класа – също. Сънят е един. 27 Седемте мършави и грозни крави, които излязоха след тях, са седем години, както и седемте празни и изсушени от източния вятър класове са седем гладни години. 28 Ето защо казах на фараона, че Бог иска да му покаже какво ще стори. 29 Следват седем години на голямо изобилие по цялата египетска земя; 30 след тях ще дойдат седем гладни години и ще се забрави всичкото онова изобилие в Египет, и глад ще изтощи земята. 31 Предишното изобилие ще бъде бързо забравено, защото гладът, който ще настане, ще бъде непоносим. 32 А щом се е присънило на фараона два пъти, това е потвърждение за истинността на Божието слово и Бог скоро ще го изпълни. 33 Нека фараонът си намери един разумен и мъдър човек и да го постави да управлява цялата египетска земя. 34 По заповед на фараона да бъдат поставени по земята надзиратели и през седемте изобилни години да се събира петата част от излишъка в Египет. 35 Надзирателите да събират всякаква храна през следващите плодородни години и според разпоредбата на фараона да складират житото в градовете и да го пазят; 36 и тази храна да бъде запазена за седемте гладни години, които ще настанат в Египет, за да не загинат жителите на тази земя от глад.“
Йосиф – господар над египетската земя
37 Това се понрави на фараона и на всичките му служители. 38 Тогава фараонът попита служителите си: „Ще намерим ли човек като него, у когото да има Божий Дух?“ 39 И фараонът каза на Йосиф: „След като тъкмо на тебе Бог откри всичко това, то няма друг по-подходящ, така разумен и мъдър като тебе. 40 (B)Ти ще бъдеш първи в двореца и ще определяш прехраната на народа ми. Само с трона си ще стоя по-високо от тебе.“ 41 И добави още: „Поставям те да управляваш цялата египетска земя.“ 42 Тогава фараонът свали пръстена от ръката си и го сложи на ръката на Йосиф; облече го в скъпи дрехи и окачи на врата му златна огърлица; 43 заповяда да го возят на втората от своите колесници и глашатаи да възгласят пред него: „Поклонете се!“ И го постави за управител на цялата египетска земя. 44 И рече фараонът на Йосиф: „Тук аз съм фараон, но без твоята дума никой няма да извърши нещо, нито ще отиде някъде в цялата египетска земя.“ 45 Фараонът нарече Йосиф Цафнат-Панеах и му даде за жена Асенета, дъщеря на Поти-Фера, жрец в Илиопол. И Йосиф тръгна да обиколи египетската земя.
46 Йосиф беше на тридесет години, когато се срещна с фараона, египетския цар. И сбогува се Йосиф с фараона, и тръгна да обикаля цялата египетска земя. 47 А през седемте плодородни години земята даваше преизобилно. 48 И Йосиф събра през седемте години на изобилие в Египет различни храни и ги складира по градовете. Във всеки град прибра храната от околните земи. 49 Йосиф събра и твърде много жито, колкото е морският пясък, и престана да смята количествата, защото те нямаха брой. 50 Преди да настанат гладните години, Асенета, дъщеря на илиополския жрец Поти-Фера, роди на Йосиф двама синове. 51 Йосиф нарече първородния Манасия, защото, както каза той: „Бог ми даде да забравя всички свои неволи и бащиния ми род“, 52 а на втория даде име Ефрем, защото, както каза той: „Бог ме направи плодовит в земята на страданието ми.“ 53 Като изминаха седемте години на изобилие в египетската земя, 54 (C)настъпиха седемте гладни години, както беше предсказал Йосиф. И настана глад по света, и само в египетската земя имаше хляб. 55 Всички в цялата египетска земя усетиха глада и поискаха от фараона хляб. И фараонът каза на всички египтяни: „Идете при Йосиф и правете, каквото той ви каже.“ 56 Гладът се разпростря по цялата земя. Тогава Йосиф отвори всички житници и започна да продава жито на египтяните. А гладът се усилваше в египетската земя. 57 И от всички страни идваха в Египет да купуват жито от Йосиф, защото гладът беше навсякъде.
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Библия, нов превод от оригиналните езици (с неканоничните книги) (CBT)
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