Genesis 41:2-26

2Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

3Seven other cows came up from the river behind them. These cows were sickly and skinny. They stood behind the first seven cows on the riverbank.

4The cows that were sickly and skinny ate the seven nice-looking, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5He fell asleep again and had a second dream. Seven good, healthy heads of grain were growing on a single stalk.

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

7The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full, healthy heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It was only a dream.

8In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.

9Then the chief cupbearer  spoke to Pharaoh, “I remember a promise I failed to keep.

10Some time ago when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he confined me and the chief baker to the captain of the guard’s prison.

11We both had dreams the same night. Each dream had its own meaning.

12A young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guard, was with us. We told him our dreams, and he told each of us what they meant.

13What he told us happened: Pharaoh restored me to my position, but he hung the baker on a pole.”

14Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and immediately he was brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came in front of Pharaoh.

15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. I heard that when you are told a dream, you can say what it means.”

16Joseph answered Pharaoh, “I can’t, but God can give Pharaoh the answer that he needs.”

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

18Suddenly, seven nice-looking, well-fed cows came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds.

19Seven other cows came up behind them. These cows were scrawny, very sick, and thin. I’ve never seen such sickly cows in all of Egypt!

20The thin, sickly cows ate up the seven well-fed ones.

21Even though they had eaten them, no one could tell they had eaten them. They looked just as sick as before. Then I woke up.

22“In my second dream I saw seven good, full heads of grain growing on a single stalk.

23Seven other heads of grain, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them.

24The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but no one could tell me what it meant.”

25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh had the same dream twice. God has told Pharaoh what he’s going to do.

26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. It’s all the same dream.