Genesis 41

1 After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile,

2 when seven cows, sleek and well-fed, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

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.

4 And the cows that were sickly and thin devoured the seven sleek, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up,

5 but he fell back asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, came up on one stalk.

6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted, thin and scorched by the east wind.

7 And the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized 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.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I recall my failures.

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.

11 One night both the chief baker and I had dreams, and each dream had its own meaning.

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.

13 And it happened to us just as he had interpreted: I was restored to my position, and the other man 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.

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.”

16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,

18 when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

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!

20 Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first.

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.

22 In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk.

23 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind.

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.”

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.

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning.

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.

28 It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.

29 Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout 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.

31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

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.

33 Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise 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.

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.

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.”

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials.

38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”

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.

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.”

41 Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you 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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

47 During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.

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.

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.

50 Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

51 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”

52 And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end,

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.

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.”

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.

57 And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

1 ¶ 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.

1 And after two years Pharaoh had a dream, as he stood by the waters.

2 And I saw seven fat cows coming up out of the water, walking by the pasture in the grass.

3 And after these he saw other seven kine come up out of the water, ugly and lean: and they stood by the kine upon the bank by the water.

4 And the ugly and lean ones did eat the seven fair fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.

5 And he fell asleep again, and dreamed again, and saw seven ears of corn growing out of one stalk, full and thick.

6 And afterward he saw seven ears of thin and scorched corn spring up.

7 And the seven lean ears swallowed up the seven thick and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke and realized it was a dream.

8 And when it was morning, his spirit was troubled, and sent and called all the diviners of Egypt, and all the wise men, and told them his dreams. But there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

9 And the chief host spake unto Pharaoh, saying: I remember my sin this day.

10 And Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in prison with the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard,

11 Then dreamed we both in one night, every man his dream, the interpretation of which concerned him.

12 And there was with us a young man of the sons of Egypt, the chamberlain's servant, and we told him. And he interpreted our dreams unto us, every man according to his dream.

13 And as he signified unto us, so it is done: for I am restored to my office, and he is hanged.

14 And Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and sent him out of the hole in haste. And he was clothed, and put on other garments, and came in unto Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said unto him, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: but I have heard thee say, When thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, and said, This is not with me: surely God will prophesy good things unto Pharaoh.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I dreamed that I stood by the waters on the shore.

18 And when I was come up out of the water, I saw seven fat cows of great beauty, walking by the pasture in the grass.

19 And after them I saw other seven scrawny cows come out, very ugly and lean. I have not seen such ugly ones in all the land of Egypt.

20 And the seven lean and ugly cows did eat upon the seven first fat cows.

21 And when they had eaten them up, it was not known in them that they had eaten them; and they were as ugly as before. Then I awoke.

22 And once in my dream I saw seven ears of corn growing on one stalk, full and thick.

22 And the other he called Ephraim: for God, said he, hath made me to grow in the land of my affliction.

23 And afterward there went up seven dry ears of corn, thin and scorched.

24 And the seven thin ears swallowed up the seven thick ears. And I have told it unto the diviners, but they cannot interpret it unto me.

25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, Both Pharaoh's dreams are one. For God tells Pharaoh what He intends to do.

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are also the seven years. It is the same dream.

27 The seven lean and ugly kine that came up after them are seven years: and the seven lean and scorched ears of corn are seven years of costly time.

28 Now this is that I said unto Pharaoh, that God would shew Pharaoh what he would do.

29 Behold, seven years of plenty shall come upon all the land of Egypt.

30 And after them shall come seven years of trouble, and all the abundance of the land of Egypt shall be forgotten: and the trouble shall consume the land,

31 That nothing shall be known of the fulness in the land before the precious time that cometh after: for it shall be almost heavy.

32 And that Pharaoh dreamed the second time signifieth that God will surely and speedily do this thing.

33 Now Pharaoh looketh for a man of understanding and wisdom, whom he shall set over the land of Egypt,

34 And he shall appoint officers in the land, and take the fifth in the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty;

35 And gather all the food of the good years that shall come, and heap up corn in Pharaoh's granaries for a store in the cities, and keep it,

36 That food may be found ordained for the land in the seven costly years that shall come upon the land of Egypt, that the land be not destroyed for hunger.

37 And the speech pleased Pharaoh well, and all his servants.

38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants: How can we find such a man in whom is the Spirit of God?

39 And said unto Joseph, Because God hath made all these things known unto thee, there is none so understanding and wise as thou.

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and unto thy word shall all my people obey: of the king's throne alone will I be higher than thou.

41 And Pharaoh said again unto Joseph, Behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

42 And he took his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and clothed him in white silk, and put a chain of gold upon his neck.

43 And he made him ride in his other chariot, and proclaimed before him: He is the father of the land. And he set him over all the land of Egypt.

44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh: without thy will shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.

45 And called him the secret council. And he gave him a wife, Asnath the daughter of Potipherah the priest of On. So Joseph went forth to see the land of Egypt.

46 And he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt: and he departed from Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

47 And the land did so the seven rich years;

48 And they gathered all the meat of the seven years that were in the land of Egypt, and put it into the cities. And whatsoever food was growing in the field of any city round about, that they put therein.

49 So Joseph heaped up the corn, as much as the sand of the sea, so that he ceased to count it; for it could not be counted.

50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the precious time came, which Asnath the daughter of Potipherah the priest bare unto him.

51 And he called the first Manasseh: for God, said he, hath made me forget all my calamities, and all my father's house.

53 And when the seven years of plenty were expired in the land of Egypt,

54 And the seven years of trouble began to come, when Joseph had spoken of them. And there was a famine in all the land: but there was bread in all the land of Egypt.

55 And when all the land of Egypt was also famished, the people cried unto Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; whatsoever he saith unto you, do.

56 And it came to pass, when there was a famine throughout all the land, that Joseph opened cornhouses every where, and sold unto the Egyptians. For the longer the famine continued, the greater was the famine in the land.

57 And all the countries of Egypt came to buy of Joseph: for the famine was great in all the countries.