Genesis 41
1 After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,
And it came to pass after two full years that Pharao had a dream. He thought he stood upon [the bank of] the river.
2 when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
And behold, there came up as it were out of the river seven cows, fair in appearance, and choice of flesh, and they fed on the sedge.
3 After 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.
And other seven cows came up after these out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, and fed by the [other] cows on the bank of the river.
4 And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,
And the seven ill-favoured and lean cows devoured the seven well-favoured and choice-fleshed cows; and Pharao awoke.
5 but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.
And he dreamed again. And, behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, choice and good.
6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.
And, behold, seven ears thin and blasted with the wind, grew up after them.
7 And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.
And the seven thin ears and blasted with the wind devoured the seven choice and full ears; and Pharao awoke, and it was a dream.
8 In 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.
And it was morning, and his soul was troubled; and he sent and called all the interpreters of Egypt, and all her wise men; and Pharao related to them his dream, and there was no one to interpret it to Pharao.
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.
And the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharao, saying, I this day remember my fault:
10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard.
Pharao was angry with his servants, and put us in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker.
11 One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.
And we had a dream both in one night, I and he; we saw, each according to his dream.
12 Now 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.
And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard; and we related to him [our dreams], and he interpreted [them] to us.
13 And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”
And it came to pass, as he interpreted them to us, so also it happened, both that I was restored to my office, and that he was hanged.
14 So 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.
And Pharao having sent, called Joseph; and they brought him out from the prison, and shaved him, and changed his dress, and he came to Pharao.
15 Pharaoh 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.”
And Pharao said to Joseph, I have seen a vision, and there is no one to interpret it; but I have heard say concerning you that you did hear dreams and interpret them.
16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
And Joseph answered Pharao and said, Without God an answer of safety shall not be given to Pharao.
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
And Pharao spoke to Joseph, saying, In my dream I thought I stood by the bank of the river;
18 when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.
and there came up as it were out of the river, seven cows well-favoured and choice-fleshed, and they fed on the sedge.
19 After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!
And behold seven other cows came up after them out of the river, evil and ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, such that I never saw worse in all the land of Egypt.
20 Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.
And the seven ill-favoured and thin cows ate up the seven first good and choice cows.
21 When 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.
And they went into their bellies; and it was not perceptible that they had gone into their bellies, and their appearance was ill-favoured, as also at the beginning; and after I awoke I slept,
22 In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.
and saw again in my sleep, and as it were seven ears came up on one stem, full and good.
23 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.
And other seven ears, thin and blasted with the wind, sprang up close to them.
24 And 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.”
And the seven thin and blasted ears devoured the seven fine and full ears: so I spoke to the interpreters, and there was no one to explain it to me.
25 At 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.
And Joseph said to Pharao, The dream of Pharao is one; whatever God does, he has shown to Pharao.
26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.
The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream of Pharao is one.
27 Moreover, 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.
And the seven thin kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven thin and blasted ears are seven years; there shall be seven years of famine.
28 It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
And as for the word which I have told Pharao, whatever God intends to do, he has shown to Pharao:
29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
behold, for seven years there is coming great plenty in all the land of Egypt.
30 but 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.
But there shall come seven years of famine after these, and they shall forget the plenty that shall be in all Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.
31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.
And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine that shall be after this, for it shall be very grievous.
32 Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly.
And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, [it is] because the saying which is from God shall be true, and God will hasten to accomplish it.
33 Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
Now then, look out a wise and prudent man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
And let Pharao make and appoint local governors over the land; and let them take up a fifth part of all the produce of the land of Egypt for the seven years of the plenty.
35 Under 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.
And let them gather all the food of these seven good years that are coming, and let the corn be gathered under the hand of Pharao; let food be kept in the cities.
36 This 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.”
And the stored food shall be for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; and the land shall not be utterly destroyed by the famine.
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.
And the word was pleasing in the sight of Pharao, and in the sight of all his servants.
38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
And Pharao said to all his servants, Shall we find such a man as this, who has the Spirit of God in him?
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
And Pharao said to Joseph, Since God has showed you all these things, there is not a wiser or more prudent man than you.
40 You 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.”
You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be obedient to your word; only in the throne will I excel you.
41 Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”
And Pharao said to Joseph, Behold, I set you this day over all the land of Egypt.
42 Then 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.
And Pharao took his ring off his hand, and put it on the hand of Joseph, and put on him a robe of fine linen, and put a necklace of gold about his neck.
43 He 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.
And he mounted him on the second of his chariots, and a herald made proclamation before him; and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 And 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.”
And Pharao said to Joseph, I am Pharao; without you no one shall lift up his hand on all the land of Egypt.
45 Pharaoh 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.
And Pharao called the name of Joseph, Psonthomphanech; and he gave him Aseneth, the daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, to wife.
46 Now 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.
And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharao, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharao, and went through all the land of Egypt.
47 During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.
And the land produced, in the seven years of plenty, [whole] handfuls [of corn].
48 During 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.
And he gathered all the food of the seven years, in which was the plenty in the land of Egypt; and he laid up the food in the cities; the food of the fields of a city round about it he laid up in it.
49 So 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.
And Joseph gathered very much corn as the sand of the sea, until it could not be numbered, for there was no number [of it].
50 Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
And to Joseph were born two sons, before the seven years of famine came, which Aseneth, the daughter of Petephres, priest of Heliopolis, bore to him.
51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn, Manasse; for God, [said he], has made me forget all my toils, and all my father's house.
52 And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
And he called the name of the second, Ephraim; for God, [said he], has increased me in the land of my humiliation.
53 When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,
And the seven years of plenty passed away, which were in the land of Egypt.
54 the 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.
And the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph said; and there was a famine in all the land; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 When 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.”
And all the land of Egypt was hungry; and the people cried to Pharao for bread. And Pharao said to all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph, and do whatever he shall tell you.
56 When 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.
And the famine was on the face of all the earth; and Joseph opened all the granaries, and sold to all the Egyptians.
57 And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
And all countries came to Egypt to buy of Joseph, for the famine prevailed in all the earth.
