Genesis 41

1AfterH1961 two full yearsH8141H3117 had passedH7093, PharaohH6547 had a dreamH2492H2009: He was standingH5975 besideH5921 the NileH2975, 2when sevenH7651 cowsH6510, sleekH3303H4758 and well-fedH1277H1320, came upH5927 fromH4480 the riverH2975 and began to grazeH7462 among the reedsH260. 3After themH310, sevenH7651 otherH312 cowsH6510, sicklyH7451H4758 and thinH1851H1320, came upH5927 fromH4480 the NileH2975 and stoodH5975 besideH681 the well-fed cowsH6510 onH5921 the bankH8193 of the riverH2975. 4And the cowsH6510 that were sicklyH7451H4758 and thinH1851H1320 devouredH398 the sevenH7651 sleekH3303H4758, well-fedH1277 cowsH6510.

Then PharaohH6547 woke upH3364, 5but he fell back asleepH3462 and dreamedH2492 a second timeH8145H2009: SevenH7651 heads of grainH7641, plumpH1277 and ripeH2896, came upH5927 on oneH259 stalkH7070. 6After themH310, seven otherH7651 heads of grainH7641 sproutedH6779, thinH1851 and scorchedH7710 by the east windH6921. 7And the thinH1851 heads of grainH7641 swallowed upH1104 the sevenH7651 plumpH1277, ripeH4392 onesH7641. Then PharaohH6547 awokeH3364 and realizedH2009 it was a dreamH2472.

8In the morningH1242H1961 his spiritH7307 was troubledH6470, so he summonedH7971H7121 allH3605 the magiciansH2748 andH3605 wise menH2450 of EgyptH4714. PharaohH6547 toldH5608 them his dreamsH2472, but no oneH369 could interpretH6622 themH853 for himH6547.

9Then the chiefH8269 cupbearerH4945 saidH1696 toH854 PharaohH6547H559, “TodayH3117 IH589 recallH2142 my failuresH2399. 10PharaohH6547 was once angryH7107 withH5921 his servantsH5650, and he putH5414 meH853 andH853 the chiefH8269 bakerH644 in the custodyH4929H1004 of the captainH8269 of the guardH2876. 11OneH259 nightH3915 bothH1931 the chief baker and IH589 had dreamsH2492H2472, and eachH376 dreamH2472H2492 had its own meaningH6623. 12Now a youngH5288 HebrewH5680 was thereH8033 with usH854, a servantH5650 of the captainH8269 of the guardH2876. We told himH5608 our dreams and he interpretedH6622 them for usH853 individuallyH376H2472H6622. 13And it happenedH1961 to us just asH834 he had interpretedH6622H3651H1961: I was restoredH7725 toH5921 my positionH3653, and the other man was hangedH8518.”

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams

14So PharaohH6547 sent forH7971H7121 JosephH3130, who was quickly broughtH7323 out ofH4480 the dungeonH953. After he had shavedH1548 and changedH2498 his clothesH8071, he went inH935 beforeH413 PharaohH6547.

15PharaohH6547 saidH559 toH413 JosephH3130, “I had a dreamH2472H2492, and noH369 one can interpret itH6622. But IH589 have heardH8085 it saidH559 of youH5921 that when you hearH8085 a dreamH2472 you can interpret itH6622.”

16“I myself cannot do itH1107,” JosephH3130 repliedH6030H6547H559, “but GodH430 will give PharaohH6547 a soundH7965 answerH6030.”

17Then PharaohH6547 saidH1696 toH413 JosephH3130: “In my dreamH2472H2005 I was standingH5975 onH5921 the bankH8193 of the NileH2975, 18when sevenH7651 cowsH6510, well-fedH1277H1320 and sleekH3303H8389, came upH5927 fromH4480 the riverH2975 and began to grazeH7462 among the reedsH260. 19After themH310H1803, sevenH7651 otherH312 cowsH6510—sicklyH7451, uglyH8389H3966, and thinH7534H1320—came upH5927. I have neverH3808 seenH7200 such uglyH7455 cows in allH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714! 20Then the thinH7534, uglyH7451 cowsH6510 devouredH398 the sevenH7651 well-fedH1277 cowsH6510 that were there firstH7223. 21When they had devouredH935H413 them, howeverH7130, no one couldH3808 tellH3045 thatH3588 they hadH935H413H7130 done so; their appearanceH4758 was as uglyH7451 asH834 it had been beforeH8462. Then I awokeH3364.

22In my dreamH2472H2009 I also sawH7200 sevenH7651 heads of grainH7641, plumpH4392 and ripeH2896, growing onH5927 a singleH259 stalkH7070. 23After themH310, seven otherH7651 heads of grainH7641 sproutedH6779—witheredH6798, thinH1851, and scorchedH7710 by the east windH6921. 24And the thinH1851 heads of grainH7641 swallowedH1104 the sevenH7651 plumpH2896 onesH7641.

I toldH559 this dream toH413 the magiciansH2748, but noH369 one could explain itH5046 to me.”

25At this, JosephH3130 saidH559 toH413 PharaohH6547, “The dreamsH2472 of PharaohH6547 are one and the sameH259H1931. GodH430 has revealedH5046 to PharaohH6547 whatH834 He is about to doH6213. 26The sevenH7651 goodH2896 cowsH6510 are sevenH7651 yearsH8141H2007, and the sevenH7651 ripeH2896 heads of grainH7641 are sevenH7651 yearsH8141H2007. The dreamsH2472 have the same meaningH259H1931. 27Moreover, the sevenH7651 thinH7534, uglyH7451 cowsH6510 that came upH5927 after themH310 are sevenH7651 yearsH8141, and so areH2007 the sevenH7651 worthlessH7386 heads of grainH7641 scorchedH7710 by the east windH6921—they areH1961 sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of famineH7458.

28ItH1931H1697 is just asH834 I saidH1696 toH413 PharaohH6547: GodH430 has shownH7200 PharaohH6547 whatH834 He is about to doH6213. 29BeholdH2009, sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of greatH1419 abundanceH7647 are comingH935 throughoutH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714, 30but sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of famineH7458 will followH6965 themH310. Then allH3605 the abundanceH7647 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714 will be forgottenH7911, and the famineH7458 will devastateH3615 the landH776. 31The abundanceH7647 in the landH776 will notH3808 be rememberedH3045, sinceH6440 theH1931 famineH7458 that followsH310 itH3651 will be soH3966 severeH3515.

32MoreoverH5921, becauseH3588 the dreamH2472 was givenH6471 toH413 PharaohH6547 in two versionsH8138, the matterH1697 has been decreedH3559 byH5973 GodH430, and HeH430 will carry it outH6213 shortlyH4116.

33Now, thereforeH6258, PharaohH6547 should look forH7200 a discerningH995 and wiseH2450 manH376 and set himH7896 overH5921 the landH776 of EgyptH4714. 34Let PharaohH6547 take actionH6213 and appointH6485 commissionersH6496 overH5921 the landH776 to take a fifthH2567 of the harvestH7761 of EgyptH4714 during the sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of abundanceH7647. 35UnderH8478 the authorityH3027 of PharaohH6547, let them collectH6908 allH3605 the excess foodH400 from theseH428 goodH2896 yearsH8141, that they may comeH935 and lay upH6651 the grainH1250 to be preservedH8104 as foodH400 in the citiesH5892. 36This foodH400 will beH1961 a reserveH6487 for the landH776 during the sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of famineH7458 to comeH1961 upon the landH776 of EgyptH4714. Then the countryH776 will notH3808 perishH3772 in the famineH7458.”

Joseph Given Charge of Egypt

37This proposalH1697 pleasedH3190H5869 PharaohH6547H5869 and allH3605 his officialsH5650. 38So PharaohH6547 askedH559H413 them, “Can we findH4672 anyone like thisH2088 manH376, in whomH834 the SpiritH7307 of GodH4302 abides?”

39Then PharaohH6547 saidH559 toH413 JosephH3130, “SinceH310 GodH430 has made allH3605 thisH2063 known to youH3045, there is no oneH369 as discerningH995 and wiseH2450 as youH3644. 40YouH859 shall beH1961 in charge ofH5921 my houseH1004H5921, and allH3605 my peopleH5971 are to obeyH5401 your commandsH6310. OnlyH7535 with regard to the throneH3678 will I be greaterH1431 than youH4480.”

41PharaohH6547 also toldH559H413 JosephH3130, “I hereby placeH7200H5414 you overH5921 allH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714.” 42Then PharaohH6547 removedH5493 the signet ringH2885 fromH5921 his fingerH3027, putH5414 it onH5921 Joseph’sH3130 fingerH3027, clothedH3847 himH853 in garmentsH899 of fine linenH8336, and placedH7760 a goldH2091 chainH7242 aroundH5921 his neckH6677. 43He had Joseph rideH7392 in his secondH4932 chariotH4818, with men calling outH7121 before himH6440, “Bow the kneeH86!”3 So he placedH5414 himH853 overH5921 allH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714.

44And PharaohH6547 declaredH559 toH413 JosephH3130, “IH589 am PharaohH6547, but without your permissionH1107, noH3808 oneH376 in allH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714 shall liftH7311 his handH3027 orH853 footH7272.”

45PharaohH6547 gaveH7121 JosephH3130 the nameH8034 Zaphenath-paneahH6847,4 and he gaveH5414 him AsenathH621 daughterH1323 of PotipheraH6319, priestH3548 of OnH204,5 to be his wifeH802. And JosephH3130 took chargeH3318 ofH5921 all the landH776 of EgyptH4714.

The Seven Years of Plenty

46Now JosephH3130 was thirtyH7970 years oldH1121H8141 when he entered the serviceH5975H6440 of PharaohH6547 kingH4428 of EgyptH4714. And JosephH3130 leftH3318 Pharaoh’sH6547 presenceH6440 and traveledH5674 throughoutH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714.

47During the sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of abundanceH7647, the landH776 brought forthH6213 bountifullyH7062. 48During those sevenH7651 yearsH8141, Joseph collectedH6908 allH3605 the excess foodH400 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714 and storedH5414 itH400 in the citiesH5892. In every cityH5892 he laid upH5414 the foodH400 from the fieldsH7704 around itH5439. 49So JosephH3130 stored upH6651 grainH1250 in such abundanceH7235H3966H5704, like the sandH2344 of the seaH3220, thatH3588 he stoppedH2308 keeping track of itH5608; forH3588 it was beyondH369 measureH4557.

50BeforeH2962 the yearsH8141 of famineH7458 arrivedH935, twoH8147 sonsH1121 were bornH3205 to JosephH3130 by AsenathH621 daughterH1323 of PotipheraH6319, priestH3548 of OnH204. 51JosephH3130 namedH7121H8034 the firstbornH1060 ManassehH4519,6 sayingH3588, “GodH430 has made me forgetH5382 allH3605 my hardshipH5999 and allH3605 my father’sH1 householdH1004.” 52And the secondH8145 son he namedH8034H7121 EphraimH669,7 sayingH3588, “GodH430 has made me fruitfulH6509 in the landH776 of my afflictionH6040.”

The Famine Begins

53When the sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of abundanceH7647 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714 came to an endH3615, 54the sevenH7651 yearsH8141 of famineH7458H935 beganH2490, just asH834 JosephH3130 had saidH559. And although there wasH1961 famineH7458 in everyH3605 countryH776, there wasH1961 foodH3899 throughoutH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714. 55When extreme hungerH7456 came to allH3605 the landH776 of EgyptH4714 and the peopleH5971 cried outH6817 toH413 PharaohH6547 for foodH3899, he toldH559 allH3605 the EgyptiansH4713, “GoH1980 toH413 JosephH3130 and doH6213 whateverH834 he tellsH559 you.”

56When the famineH7458 had spreadH1961 overH5921 allH3605 theH6440 landH776, JosephH3130 opened upH6605 allH3605 the storehousesH834 and sold grainH7666 to the EgyptiansH4714; for the famineH7458 was severeH2388 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714. 57And everyH3605 nationH776 cameH935 toH413 JosephH3130 in EgyptH4714 to buy grainH7666, becauseH3588 the famineH7458 was severeH2388 over allH3605 the earthH776.