41 Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream. In his dream, he was standing by the River Nile. 2 Seven cows walked up out of the river. They were fat and good to look at. They ate the grass at the side of the river. 3 After those seven fat cows, Pharaoh saw seven other cows that also came up out of the river. Those cows were thin and not good to look at. They stood next to the other cows at the side of the river. 4 The thin cows ate the seven fat cows! Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 Pharaoh went to sleep again and he had another dream. He saw seven groups of grain that were growing on one branch. The grains were fat and good to look at. 6 Then he saw seven other groups of grain that grew after the first seven groups. These grains were thin, because the hot east wind had burned them. 7 Then the groups of thin grains ate the seven groups of grains that were good and fat. Then Pharaoh woke up. He realized that it was a dream.
8 In the morning, Pharaoh had trouble in his mind. So he told all the magicians and the wise men in Egypt to come to him. Pharaoh told them about his dreams. But no one could tell Pharaoh what his dreams meant.
9 Then the king's cupbearer said to Pharaoh, ‘Now I remember that I have done a wrong thing! [ a ] 10 Two years ago, you were angry with me and with your special baker. You put us in prison, in the house of the guards' captain. 11 One night we both had a dream. Each of our dreams had its own meaning. 12 A young Hebrew man was there with us. He was a servant of the guards' captain. We told the Hebrew man about our dreams. Then he told each of us the meaning of our dream. 13 And everything happened as he had told us! You gave me my job as cupbearer again. But you hanged the baker to kill him.’
14 So Pharaoh called Joseph to come to him. They quickly brought Joseph from the prison. Joseph washed himself and he cut his beard from his face. He put on clean clothes. Then he went and he stood in front of Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. But people have told me about you. They say that you can tell the meaning of dreams.’ 16 Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘I cannot do this. But God will give you an answer that will make you happy.’
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream, I stood at the side of the River Nile. 18 I saw seven cows that came up out of the river. They were fat, and good to look at. They were eating the grass at the side of the river. 19 After them, seven more cows came up out of the river. They were thin and they were not good to look at. I have never seen cows as bad as these in Egypt before. 20 The thin cows ate the seven fat cows that came out of the river first. 21 When they had eaten them, you would not have known it! They still seemed to be as thin as they were before they ate the fat cows. Then I woke up. 22 In another dream, I also saw seven groups of grain that grew on one branch. The grains were fat and good. 23 After those, seven other groups of grain grew. Those grains were thin because the hot east wind had burned them. 24 The thin grains ate the seven groups of fat grains. I told those dreams to my wise men and magicians. But none of them could tell me the meaning of my dreams.’
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘Your dreams both have the same meaning. God has shown you what he will soon do. 26 The seven fat cows tell us about seven years. And the seven groups of fat grains also mean seven years. Both dreams have the same meaning. 27 The seven thin cows that came out of the river mean seven years. And the seven groups of thin grains mean seven years. Both of these tell us about seven years of famine.
28 This is what your dreams mean. As I said, God has shown Pharaoh what he will do. 29 There will be plenty of food for seven years all over the land of Egypt. 30 But then seven years of famine will follow. People will forget about the seven years when they had plenty of food. The famine will destroy the land of Egypt. 31 No one will remember the seven good years, because the famine will be so bad. 32 God gave you two dreams with the same meaning because these things will certainly happen. God will cause them to happen very soon. 33 Now Pharaoh should look for a clever man. He should look for a man who knows what is right and wrong. Tell him to rule over the land of Egypt.
34-35 This is what you should do: Choose some officers. Give them authority to store food during the good years when there is plenty. They must take a fifth part of all the food that grows everywhere in Egypt. They must store the extra food during the good years that will come soon. Give these officers authority to store and to take care of the food in the cities. 36 Then you will be ready for the seven years of famine that will happen everywhere in Egypt. The people in Egypt will have enough food, and the famine will not destroy the land.’
37 Pharaoh and his officers thought that Joseph's idea was good. 38 Pharaoh said to his officers, ‘This man has the Spirit of God in him. We will never find anyone else like him.’ 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘God himself has helped you to know all these things. So there is no one who is as wise and clever as you are. 40 I will give you authority in my palace. All my people will do whatever you tell them to do. Only I will be greater than you, because I am the king.’
41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, ‘I give you authority in the whole land of Egypt.’ 42 Then Pharaoh took his king's ring from his finger and he put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed Joseph in beautiful clothes made of linen. He put a gold chain round Joseph's neck. 43 Pharaoh gave Joseph a chariot to ride in. It showed that Joseph was Pharaoh's most important officer. Only Pharaoh had more authority. As Joseph travelled, his servants shouted to the people, ‘Bend your knees to respect Joseph!’
In this way Pharaoh gave Joseph authority over everything in the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I rule Egypt as Pharaoh. But nobody who lives anywhere in Egypt will do anything, unless you tell them to.’ 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He also gave Asenath to Joseph to be his wife. She was the daughter of Potiphera, who was a priest in Heliopolis. [ b ] Everyone knew that Joseph had authority in all the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph then left Pharaoh's palace and he travelled all over Egypt. 47 During the seven good years, lots of food grew in the land. 48 Joseph got all the extra food that grew in the seven good years. He stored it in Egypt's cities, near the fields where it had grown. 49 In this way, Joseph stored a lot of food. The food grains were as many as the sand by the sea! Joseph stopped counting how much food he had stored because there was too much food to measure.
50 Before the years of famine arrived, Joseph became the father of two sons. Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, a priest in Heliopolis, was their mother. 51 Joseph called his firstborn son Manasseh. Joseph said, ‘God has made me forget all the trouble that my family has given to me.’ 52 Joseph called his second son Ephraim. Joseph said, ‘God has given children to me in the land where I have received pain.’
53 The seven good years with plenty of food in Egypt, came to an end. 54 The seven years of famine began, in the same way that Joseph had said would happen. There was a famine in all the other countries too. But in Egypt, the people still had food to eat. 55 When the Egyptian people became hungry, they cried out to Pharaoh for food. When they did that, Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you to do.’
56 The famine became very bad everywhere. Joseph opened all the places where he had stored the food. He sold grain to the Egyptians because there was a bad famine in all of Egypt. 57 People from all the other countries came to Egypt to buy food from Joseph. They came because the famine was very bad all over the world.
41 Two years later Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River. 2 In the dream, seven cows came out of the river and stood there eating grass. They were healthy, good-looking cows. 3 Then seven more cows came out of the river and stood on the bank of the river by the healthy cows. But these cows were thin and looked sick. 4 The seven sick cows ate the seven healthy cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 Pharaoh went back to sleep and began dreaming again. This time he dreamed that he saw seven heads of grain growing on one plant. They were healthy and full of grain. 6 Then he saw seven more heads of grain sprouting, but they were thin and scorched by the hot wind. 7 The thin heads of grain ate the seven good heads of grain. Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was only a dream. 8 The next morning Pharaoh was worried about these dreams, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told these men the dreams, but none of them could explain the dreams.
9 Then the wine servant remembered Joseph and said to Pharaoh, “I remember something that happened to me. 10 You were angry with the baker and me, and you put us in prison. 11 Then one night he and I had a dream. Each dream had a different meaning. 12 There was a young Hebrew man in prison with us. He was a servant of the commander of the guards. We told him our dreams, and he explained them to us. He told us the meaning of each dream, 13 and what he said came true. He said I would be free and have my old job back, and it happened. He also said the baker would die, and it happened!”
14 So Pharaoh called Joseph from the prison. The guards quickly got Joseph out of prison. Joseph shaved, put on some clean clothes, and went to see Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can explain it for me. I heard that you can explain dreams when someone tells you about them.”
16 Joseph answered, “I cannot! But God can explain the dream for you, Pharaoh.”
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing by the Nile River. 18 Seven cows came up out of the river and stood there eating the grass. They were healthy, good-looking cows. 19 Then I saw seven more cows come up out of the river after them, but these cows were thin and looked sick. They were the worst cows I had ever seen anywhere in Egypt! 20 The thin, sick cows ate the first healthy cows, 21 but they still looked thin and sick. You couldn’t even tell they had eaten the healthy cows. They looked as thin and sick as they did in the beginning. Then I woke up.
22 “In my next dream I saw seven heads of grain growing on one plant. They were healthy and full of grain. 23 And then seven more heads of grain grew after them, but they were thin and scorched by the hot wind. 24 Then the thin heads of grain ate the seven good heads of grain.
“I told these dreams to my magicians. But no one could explain the dreams to me. What do they mean?”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Both of these dreams have the same meaning. God is telling you what will happen soon. 26 The seven good cows and the seven good heads of grain are seven good years. 27 And the seven thin, sick-looking cows and the seven thin heads of grain mean that there will be seven years of hunger in this area. These seven bad years will come after the seven good years. 28 God has shown you what will happen soon. He will make these things happen just as I told you. 29 For seven years there will be plenty of food in Egypt. 30 But then there will be seven years of hunger. The people will forget how much food there had been in Egypt before. This famine will ruin the country. 31 It will be so bad that people will forget what it was like to have plenty of food.
32 “Pharaoh, you had two dreams about the same thing. That means God wanted to show you that he really will make this happen, and he will make it happen soon! 33 So, Pharaoh, you should choose a wise, intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt. 34 Then you should choose other men to collect food from the people. During the seven good years, the people must give them one-fifth of all the food they grow. 35 In this way these men will collect all the food during the seven good years and store it in the cities until it is needed. Pharaoh, this food will be under your control. 36 Then during the seven years of hunger, there will be food for the country of Egypt. And Egypt will not be destroyed by the famine.”
37 This seemed like a very good idea to Pharaoh, and all his officials agreed. 38 Then Pharaoh told them, “I don’t think we can find anyone better than Joseph to take this job! God’s Spirit is in him, making him very wise!”
39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “God showed these things to you, so you must be the wisest man. 40 I will put you in charge of my country, and the people will obey all your commands. I will be the only one more powerful than you.”
41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I now make you governor over all of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh gave his special ring to Joseph. The royal seal was on this ring. Pharaoh also gave Joseph a fine linen robe and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 Then he told Joseph to ride in his second chariot. Pharaoh’s officials said, “Let him be the governor over the whole land of Egypt!” [ a ]
44 Then Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, the king over everyone in Egypt, but no one else in Egypt can lift a hand or move a foot unless you say he can.” 45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph another name, Zaphenath Paneah. [ b ] He also gave Joseph a wife named Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, a priest in the city of On. So Joseph became the governor over the whole country of Egypt.
46 Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving the king of Egypt. He traveled throughout the country of Egypt. 47 During the seven good years, the crops in Egypt grew very well. 48 Joseph saved the food in Egypt during those seven years and stored the food in the cities. In every city he stored grain that grew in the fields around the city. 49 Joseph stored so much grain that it was like the sands of the sea. He stored so much grain that it could not be measured.
50 Joseph’s wife, Asenath, was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest in the city of On. Before the first year of hunger came, Joseph and Asenath had two sons. 51 Joseph named the first son Manasseh. [ c ] He was given this name because Joseph said, “God made me forget all my hard work and everything back home in my father’s house.” 52 Joseph named the second son Ephraim. [ d ] Joseph gave him this name because he said, “I had great troubles, but God has made me successful in everything.”
53 For seven years people had all the food they needed, but those years ended. 54 Then the seven years of hunger began, just as Joseph had said. No food grew anywhere in any of the countries in that area. But in Egypt people had plenty to eat because Joseph had stored the grain. 55 The famine began, and the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh said to the Egyptian people, “Go ask Joseph what to do.”
56 There was famine everywhere, so Joseph gave the people grain from the warehouses. He sold the stored grain to the people of Egypt. The famine was bad in Egypt, 57 but the famine was bad everywhere. So people from the countries around Egypt had to come to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain.
41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:
11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:
18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:
19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
41 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. 2 And behold, from the Nile seven cows came up, fine-looking and [ a ] fat; and they grazed in the ( A ) marsh grass. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and [ b ] thin, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 Then the ugly and [ c ] thin cows ate the seven fine-looking and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. 5 But he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. 6 Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 7 And the thin ears swallowed the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 Now in the morning ( B ) his spirit was troubled, so he sent messengers and called for all the ( C ) soothsayer priests of Egypt, and all its ( D ) wise men. And Pharaoh told them his [ d ] dreams, but ( E ) there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would make mention today of ( F ) my own [ e ] offenses. 10 Pharaoh was ( G ) furious with his servants, and ( H ) he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. 11 Then ( I ) we had a dream one night, [ f ] he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now a Hebrew youth was there with us, a ( J ) servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we told him the dreams , and ( K ) he interpreted our dreams for us. For each man he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And just ( L ) as he interpreted for us, so it happened; Pharaoh restored me in my office, but he hanged [ g ] the chief baker.”
14 Then Pharaoh sent word and ( M ) called for Joseph, and they ( N ) hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, ( O ) but no one can interpret it; and ( P ) I have heard [ h ] it said about you, that [ i ] when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “ [ j ] ( Q ) It has nothing to do with me; ( R ) God will [ k ] give Pharaoh an answer for his own good.” 17 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, there I was, standing on the bank of the Nile; 18 and behold, seven cows, [ l ] fat and fine-looking came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very [ m ] ugly and [ n ] thin, such as I had never seen for [ o ] ugliness in all the land of Egypt; 20 and the thin and ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21 Yet when they had [ p ] devoured them, it could not be [ q ] detected that they had [ r ] devoured them, [ s ] for they were just as ugly as [ t ] before. Then I awoke. 22 I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears of grain, full and good, came up on a single stalk; 23 and behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind sprouted up after them; 24 and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then ( S ) I told it to the soothsayer priests, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
25 And Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s [ u ] dreams are one and the same ; ( T ) God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the [ v ] dreams are one and the same . 27 The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind ( U ) will be seven years of famine. 28 [ w ] It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: ( V ) God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Behold, ( W ) seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; 30 and after them ( X ) seven years of famine will [ x ] come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will [ y ] ravage the land. 31 So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. 32 Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that ( Y ) the matter is confirmed by God, and God will quickly bring it about. 33 So now let Pharaoh look for a man ( Z ) discerning and wise, and appoint him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers [ z ] in charge of the land, and let him take a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt as a tax in the seven years of abundance. 35 Then have them ( AA ) collect all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and have them guard it . 36 Let the food be used as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine.”
37 Now the [ aa ] proposal seemed good [ ab ] to Pharaoh and [ ac ] to all his servants.
38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, ( AB ) in whom there is a divine spirit?” 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one as ( AC ) discerning and wise as you are. 40 ( AD ) You shall be [ ad ] in charge of my house, and all my people shall [ ae ] be obedient to you; only regarding the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “See, I have placed you ( AE ) over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh ( AF ) took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and ( AG ) put the gold necklace around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in [ af ] his second chariot; and they proclaimed ahead of him, “ [ ag ] Bow the knee!” And he placed him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “ Though I am Pharaoh, yet ( AH ) without [ ah ] your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 Then Pharaoh named Joseph [ ai ] Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of [ aj ] ( AI ) On, to be his wife. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
46 Now Joseph was ( AJ ) thirty years old when he [ ak ] stood in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven years of plenty the land produced [ al ] abundantly. 48 So he collected all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and put the food in the cities; he put in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 49 Joseph stored up grain [ am ] in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped [ an ] measuring it , for it was [ ao ] beyond measure.
50 Now before the year of famine came, ( AK ) two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of [ ap ] On, bore to him. 51 Joseph named the firstborn [ aq ] Manasseh; “For,” he said , “God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.” 52 And he named the second [ ar ] Ephraim; “For,” he said , “ ( AL ) God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
53 When the seven years of plenty which had taken place in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and ( AM ) the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 So when all the land of Egypt suffered famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; ( AN ) whatever he says to you, you shall do.” 56 When the famine was spread over the entire face of the earth, then Joseph opened all [ as ] the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Then the people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because ( AO ) the famine was severe in all the earth.
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 ) ”
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. ( T ) When he had shaved ( U ) and changed his clothes, ( V ) he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. ( W ) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” ( X )
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” ( Y )
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, ( Z ) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. ( AA ) 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me. ( AB ) ”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. ( AC ) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ( AD ) 26 The seven good cows ( AE ) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. ( AF )
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. ( AG ) 29 Seven years of great abundance ( AH ) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine ( AI ) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. ( AJ ) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided ( AK ) by God, and God will do it soon. ( AL )
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man ( AM ) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. ( AN ) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners ( AO ) over the land to take a fifth ( AP ) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ( AQ ) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. ( AR ) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, ( AS ) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. ( AT ) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God [ a ] ?” ( AU )
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, ( AV ) there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ( AW ) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, ( AX ) and all my people are to submit to your orders. ( AY ) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you. ( AZ ) ”
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” ( BA ) 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring ( BB ) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes ( BC ) of fine linen ( BD ) and put a gold chain around his neck. ( BE ) 43 He had him ride in a chariot ( BF ) as his second-in-command, [ b ] ( BG ) and people shouted before him, “Make way [ c ] !” ( BH ) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. ( BI )
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” ( BJ ) 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph ( BK ) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest ( BL ) of On, [ d ] ( BM ) to be his wife. ( BN ) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old ( BO ) when he entered the service ( BP ) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance ( BQ ) the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. ( BR ) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; ( BS ) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. ( BT ) 51 Joseph named his firstborn ( BU ) Manasseh [ e ] ( BV ) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim [ f ] ( BW ) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful ( BX ) in the land of my suffering.”
53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine ( BY ) began, ( BZ ) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, ( CA ) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” ( CB )
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, ( CC ) for the famine ( CD ) was severe throughout Egypt. ( CE ) 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, ( CF ) because the famine was severe everywhere. ( CG )
