« | Genesis 47 | » |
1 Joseph took five of his brothers to the king and told him, "My father and my brothers have come from Canaan. They have brought their sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else they own to the region of Goshen." Then he introduced his brothers to the king,
2 (SEE 47:1)
3 who asked them, "What do you do for a living?" "Sir, we are shepherds," was their answer. "Our families have always raised sheep.
4 But in our country all the pastures are dried up, and our sheep have no grass to eat. So we, your servants, have come here. Please let us live in the region of Goshen."
5 The king said to Joseph, "It's good that your father and brothers have arrived.
6 I will let them live anywhere they choose in the land of Egypt, but I suggest that they settle in Goshen, the best part of our land. I would also like for your finest shepherds to watch after my own sheep and goats."
7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and introduced him to the king. Jacob gave the king his blessing,
8 and the king asked him, "How old are you?"
9 Jacob answered, "I have lived only a hundred thirty years, and I have had to move from place to place. My parents and my grandparents also had to move from place to place. But they lived much longer, and their life was not as hard as mine."
10 Then Jacob gave the king his blessing once again and left.
11 Joseph obeyed the king's orders and gave his father and brothers some of the best land in Egypt near the city of Rameses.
12 Joseph also provided food for their families.
13 The famine was bad everywhere in Egypt and Canaan, and the people were suffering terribly.
14 So Joseph sold them the grain that had been stored up, and he put the money in the king's treasury.
15 But when everyone had run out of money, the Egyptians came to Joseph and demanded, "Give us more grain! If you don't, we'll soon be dead, because our money's all gone."
16 "If you don't have any money," Joseph answered, "give me your animals, and I'll let you have some grain."
17 From then on, they brought him their horses and donkeys and their sheep and goats in exchange for grain. Within a year Joseph had collected every animal in Egypt.
18 Then the people came to him and said: Sir, there's no way we can hide the truth from you. We are broke, and we don't have any more animals. We have nothing left except ourselves and our land.
19 Don't let us starve and our land be ruined. If you'll give us grain to eat and seed to plant, we'll sell ourselves and our land to the king. We'll become his slaves.
20 The famine became so severe that Joseph finally bought every piece of land in Egypt for the king
21 and made everyone the king's slaves,
22 except the priests. The king gave the priests a regular food allowance, so they did not have to sell their land.
23 Then Joseph said to the people, "You and your land now belong to the king. I'm giving you seed to plant,
24 but one-fifth of your crops must go to the king. You can keep the rest as seed or as food for your families."
25 "Sir, you have saved our lives!" they answered. "We are glad to be slaves of the king."
26 Then Joseph made a law that one-fifth of the harvest would always belong to the king. Only the priests did not lose their land.
27 The people of Israel made their home in the land of Goshen, where they became prosperous and had large families.
28 Jacob himself lived there for seventeen years, before dying at the age of one hundred forty-seven.
29 When Jacob knew he did not have long to live, he called in Joseph and said, "If you really love me, you must make a solemn promise not to bury me in Egypt.
30 Instead, bury me in the place where my ancestors are buried." "I will do what you have asked," Joseph answered.
31 "Will you give me your word?" Jacob asked. "Yes, I will," Joseph promised. After this, Jacob bowed down and prayed at the head of his bed.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.