Genesis 41:1-36 - Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
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 beautiful cows and very fat, and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ugly and lean-fleshed cows ate up the seven beautiful and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time; and, behold, seven heads of wheat came up upon one stalk, full and beautiful. 6 And, behold, seven thin heads, blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin heads devoured the seven full and beautiful heads. 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 dreams, but there was no one that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
9 Then the chief butler spoke unto Pharaoh, saying, I remember my sins today; 10 Pharaoh was angry with his slaves and put me in the prison of the captain of the guard's house, both me and the prince of the bakers. 11 And we both dreamed a dream in one night; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew, slave to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted our dreams to us; he interpreted to each man according to his dream. 13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto my office, and him he hanged.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and they cut his hair and changed his clothes, and he came in unto Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one that can interpret it; but I have heard say of thee that thou canst hear dreams to interpret them.
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 cows, fat-fleshed and beautiful in appearance; and they fed in a meadow. 19 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them, lean and very ugly in appearance, and thin, such as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. 20 And the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows; 21 and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I also saw in my dream, and, behold, seven heads came up in one stalk, full and beautiful; 23 and, behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads; and I told this unto the magicians, but there was no one that could declare it to me.
25 Then Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God has showed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven beautiful cows are seven years; and the seven good heads are seven years; the dream is one and the same. 27 Also the seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty heads 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 has shown unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, seven years of great plenty are coming 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 that the dream came 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 find a discreet and wise man 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 wheat under the hand of Pharaoh to feed the cities, and let them store it up. 36 And let that food be stored for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; and the land shall not perish through the famine.