| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, | 1Two years later Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, |
| 2when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. | 2when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. |
| 3After 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. | 3After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. |
| 4And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up, | 4The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. |
| 5but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk. | 5He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk. |
| 6After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind. | 6After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. |
| 7And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream. | 7The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream. |
| 8In 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. | 8When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. |
| 9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures. | 9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I remember my faults. |
| 10Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. | 10Pharaoh had been angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. |
| 11One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning. | 11He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. |
| 12Now 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. | 12Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. |
| 13And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.” | 13It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged." |
| 14So 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. | 14Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh. |
| 15Pharaoh 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.” | 15Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it."" |
| 16“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.” | 16I am not able to," Joseph answered Pharaoh. "It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." |
| 17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, | 17So Pharaoh said to Joseph: "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, |
| 18when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. | 18when seven well-fed, healthy-looking cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. |
| 19After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt! | 19After them, seven other cows--ugly, very sickly, and thin--came up. I've never seen such ugly ones as these in all the land of Egypt. |
| 20Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first. | 20Then the thin, ugly cows ate the first seven well-fed cows. |
| 21When 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. | 21When they had devoured them, you could not tell that they had devoured them; their appearance was as bad as it had been before. Then I woke up. |
| 22In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk. | 22In my dream I had also seen seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, coming up on one stalk. |
| 23After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind. | 23After them, seven heads of grain--withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind--sprouted up. |
| 24And 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.” | 24The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means." |
| 25At 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. | 25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. |
| 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. | 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. |
| 27Moreover, 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. | 27The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless, scorched heads of grain are seven years of famine." |
| 28It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. | 28It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. |
| 29Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, | 29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. |
| 30but 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. | 30After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land. |
| 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe. | 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. |
| 32Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly. | 32Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and He will carry it out soon." |
| 33Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. | 33So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. |
| 34Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. | 34Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. |
| 35Under 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. | 35Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh's authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. |
| 36This 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.” | 36The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine." |
| 37This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials. | 37The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. |
| 38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?” | 38Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God's spirit in him?" |
| 39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. | 39So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you are. |
| 40You 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.” | 40You will be over my house, and all my people will obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you." |
| 41Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” | 41Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "See, I am placing you over all the land of Egypt." |
| 42Then 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. | 42Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck. |
| 43He 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. | 43He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, and servants called out before him, "Abrek!" So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. |
| 44And 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.” | 44Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but no one will be able to raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt without your permission." |
| 45Pharaoh 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. | 45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. |
| 46Now 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. | 46Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt. |
| 47During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully. | 47During the seven years of abundance the land produced outstanding harvests. |
| 48During 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. | 48Joseph gathered all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and put it in the cities. He put the food in every city from the fields around it. |
| 49So 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. | 49So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance--like the sand of the sea--that he stopped measuring it because it was beyond measure. |
| 50Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. | 50Two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine arrived. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On, bore them to him. |
| 51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” | 51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, meaning, "God has made me forget all my hardship in my father's house." |
| 52And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” | 52And the second son he named Ephraim, meaning, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." |
| 53When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, | 53Then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, |
| 54the 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. | 54and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country, but throughout the land of Egypt there was food. |
| 55When 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.” | 55Extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt, and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all Egypt, "Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you." |
| 56When 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. | 56Because the famine had spread across the whole country, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. |
| 57And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. | 57Every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, for the famine was severe in every land. |
|
