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)”

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)