Genesis 41:1-36 - Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams

¹ And it happened [that] after {two full years} Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. ² And behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. ³ And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, {ugly and gaunt}, and they stood beside those cows on the bank of the Nile. ⁴ And the {ugly and gaunt} cows ate the seven {well built and fat} cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. ⁵ And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time, and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were coming out of one stalk. ⁶ And behold, seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. ⁷ And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven plump and full ears of grain. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, [it was] a dream.

⁸ And it happened [that] in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all of the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men, and Pharaoh told his dream to them. But {they had no interpretation} for Pharaoh.

⁹ Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my sins today. ¹⁰ Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the house of the chief of the guard. ¹¹ And we dreamed a dream one night, I and he, {each with a dream that had a meaning}. ¹² And there with us [was] a young man, a Hebrew servant of the chief of the guard, and we told him [the dream], and he interpreted our dreams for us, each according to his dream he interpreted. ¹³ And it happened just as he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and him he hanged."

¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.

¹⁵ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I dreamed a dream, but there is none to interpret it. Now, I have heard concerning you [that when] you hear a dream [you can] interpret it."

¹⁶ Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, "{It is not in my power}; God will answer [concerning] the well-being of Pharaoh."

¹⁷ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "[Now] in my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, ¹⁸ and behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. ¹⁹ And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, very {ugly and gaunt}--never have I seen [any] as them in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. ²⁰ And the thin and ugly cows ate the former seven healthy cows. ²¹ But [when] they went into their bellies it could not be known that they went into their bellies, for their appearance [was] as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. ²² Then I saw in my dream and behold, seven ears of grain were coming out of one stalk, full and good. ²³ And behold, seven withered ears of grain, thin [and] scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. ²⁴ And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears of grain. And I told the magicians, but there was none to explain [it] to me."

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh [are] one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows, they are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain, they [are] seven years. The dreams [are] one. ²⁷ And the seven thin and ugly cows coming up after them, they [are] seven years, and the seven empty ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, they are [also] seven years of famine.

²⁸ This [is] the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh; God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁹ Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt. ³⁰ Then seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will consume the land. ³¹ Abundance in the land will not be known because of the famine {that follows}, for it will be very heavy. ³² Now concerning the repetition of the dream twice to Pharaoh, [it is] because the matter [is] established by God, and God will do [it] quickly.

³³ Now then, let Pharaoh select a man [who is] discerning and wise, and let him set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint supervisors over the land, and let him take one-fifth from the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ Then let them gather all the food of these coming good years and let them pile up grain under the hand of Pharaoh [for] food in the cities, and let them keep [it]. ³⁶ Then the food shall be as a deposit for the land for the seven years of the famine that will be in the land of Egypt, that the land will not perish on account of the famine."