Genesis 41:25-36

25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘Your dreams both have the same meaning. God has shown you what he will soon do.

26The 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.

27The 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.

28This is what your dreams mean. As I said, God has shown Pharaoh what he will do.

29There will be plenty of food for seven years all over the land of Egypt.

30But 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.

31No one will remember the seven good years, because the famine will be so bad.

32God gave you two dreams with the same meaning because these things will certainly happen. God will cause them to happen very soon.

33Now 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.

34This 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.

36Then 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.’