Genesis 41:25-49

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.

27The seven thin, sickly cows that came up behind them are seven years. The seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind are also seven years. Seven years of famine are coming.

28“It’s just as I said to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he’s going to do.

29Seven years are coming when there will be plenty of food in Egypt.

30After them will come seven years of famine. People will forget that there was plenty of food in Egypt, and the famine will ruin the land.

31People won’t remember that there once was plenty of food in the land, because the coming famine will be so severe.

32The reason Pharaoh has had a recurring dream is because the matter has been definitely decided by God, and he will do it very soon.

33“Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt.

34Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt’s harvest during the seven good years.

35Have them collect all the food during these good years and store up grain under Pharaoh’s control, to be kept for food in the cities.

36This food will be a reserve supply for our country during the seven years of famine that will happen in Egypt. Then the land will not be ruined by the famine.”

37Pharaoh and all his servants liked the idea.

38So Pharaoh asked his servants, “Can we find anyone like this—a man who has God’s Spirit in him?”

39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you.

40You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I’m Pharaoh.”

41Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I now put you in charge of Egypt.”

42Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s finger. He had Joseph dressed in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

43He had him ride in the chariot of the second-in-command. Men ran ahead of him and shouted, “Make way!” Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt.

44He also said to Joseph, “Even though I am Pharaoh, no one anywhere in Egypt will do anything without your permission.”

45Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenathpaneah and gave him Asenath as his wife. She was the daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. Joseph traveled around Egypt.

46Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt). He left Pharaoh and traveled all around Egypt.

47During the seven good years the land produced large harvests.

48Joseph collected all the food grown in Egypt during those seven years and put this food in the cities. In each city he put the food from the fields around it.

49Joseph stored up grain in huge quantities like the sand on the seashore. He had so much that he finally gave up keeping any records because he couldn’t measure it all.