Genesis 41:25-49

25Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.

26The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity.

27The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.

28“This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.

29The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt.

30But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land.

31This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased.

32As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

33“Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.

34Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years.

35Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities.

36That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

37Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials.

38So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”

39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.

40You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”

42Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.

43Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.

44And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

45Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt.

46He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.

47As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops.

48During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities.

49He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.