Gensis
Chapter 41: 1-40
Pharaoh's Dreams
1 When two full years
had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2
when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the
reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up
out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And
the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5 He fell asleep again
and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single
stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain
sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin
heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had
been a dream.
8 In the morning his
mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told
them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9 Then the chief
cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me
and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11
Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain
of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the
interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly
as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.
"
14 So Pharaoh sent for
Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his
clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you
that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 "I cannot do
it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he
desires."
17 Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18
when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the
reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny
and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up
first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that
they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 "In my dreams I
also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin
and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain
swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it
to me."
25 Then Joseph said to
Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh
what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven
years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven
years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are
seven years of famine.
28 "It is just as I
said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29
Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the
abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the
famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the
dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God,
and God will do it soon.
33 "And now let
Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth
of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35
They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the
grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used
during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be
ruined by the famine."
37 The plan seemed good
to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them,
"Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?"
39 Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and
wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all
my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater
than you."
