< Genesis 41 >
1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and look, he was standing by 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 And look, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed 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 And look, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, miserable-looking and thin, and stood by the other cows at the edge of the Nile.
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 The miserable-looking and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat 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 And he slept and dreamed a second time. And look, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good.
And he dreamed again. And, behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, choice and good.
6 Then look, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprouted up after them.
And, behold, seven ears thin and blasted with the wind, grew up after them.
7 The thin heads swallowed up the seven healthy and full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up, and look, 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 It happened in the morning that his mind was troubled, so he summoned all of Egypt's magicians and wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
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 spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults today.
And the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharao, saying, I this day remember my fault:
10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker.
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 We had a dream on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with 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 guards, and we told him, and he interpreted our dreams to us, to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
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 just the way he interpreted them to us, so it was: I was restored to my office, and he 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 Then Pharaoh summoned Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the pit. And he shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came in to 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 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, but there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said about 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 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "Apart from God, the welfare of Pharaoh will receive no 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, look, I stood on the edge of the Nile.
And Pharao spoke to Joseph, saying, In my dream I thought I stood by the bank of the river;
18 And look, there came up out of the river seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed 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 And look, seven other cows came up after them, scrawny and very miserable-looking and thin. I had never seen such bad-looking 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 The thin and miserable-looking cows ate up the first seven fat cows.
And the seven ill-favoured and thin cows ate up the seven first good and choice cows.
21 But when they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as miserable-looking as at the beginning. Then I woke up.
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 And I fell asleep, and I saw in my dream, and look, seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, full and good.
and saw again in my sleep, and as it were seven ears came up on one stem, full and good.
23 And look, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprouted up after them.
And other seven ears, thin and blasted with the wind, sprang up close to them.
24 And the seven thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. And I told it to the magicians, but no one could tell me its meaning."
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 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one. God has told 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 represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain represent seven years. The dreams are the same.
The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream of Pharao is one.
27 And the seven thin and miserable-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with 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 Look, seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt.
behold, for seven years there is coming great plenty in all the land of Egypt.
30 But after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. 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 and the abundance will not be remembered in the land because of the famine that follows it, for it will be very 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 Now the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the matter has been fixed by God, and God will carry it out soon.
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 give him authority over the land of Egypt.
Now then, look out a wise and prudent man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Pharaoh should do this, and should appoint overseers over the land, and they should take a fifth of all the produce of the land 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 They should gather all the food during these good years that are coming and store the grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and they should preserve it.
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 That food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will come on the land of Egypt, so that the land will survive 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 The proposal was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
And the word was pleasing in the sight of Pharao, and in the sight of all his servants.
38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Ruach of God?"
And Pharao said to all his servants, Shall we find such a man as this, who has the Spirit of God in him?
39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, 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 will be in charge of my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. 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 said to Joseph, "Look, I have put you in charge 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 took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in robes of fine linen, and put 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 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had, and they called out before him, "Bow the knee. " So he put him in charge over the entire 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 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will do anything or go anywhere in all the land of Egypt."
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 called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah. And he gave him Asenath the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as a wife. So Joseph went out through 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 Joseph was thirty years old when he began to serve Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph left the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all 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 produced large harvests.
And the land produced, in the seven years of plenty, [whole] handfuls [of corn].
48 And he collected all the food during the seven years when there was abundance in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He placed in every city the food from the fields surrounding 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 Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, because it could not be measured.
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 To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.
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 called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my trouble 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 name of the second he called Ephraim: "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
And he called the name of the second, Ephraim; for God, [said he], has increased me in the land of my humiliation.
53 And the seven years of abundance that occurred 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 Then the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was food.
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 all the land of Egypt experienced the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh said to all Egypt, "Go to Joseph. Whatever he says to you, do."
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 So the famine was over all the surface of the land. Then Joseph opened all the storehouses of grain and sold to the Egyptians. And 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 all the countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth.
And all countries came to Egypt to buy of Joseph, for the famine prevailed in all the earth.