1And then, a two full years later, Pharaoh had this dream: He stood by the Nile River. 2And up out of the river there came seven sleek and plump cows; and they grazed in a meadow. 3And then seven other cows came up out of the river after them, ugly and gaunt; and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. 4And then the ugly and gaunt cows ate the seven sleek and plump cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. 5And then he went back to sleep; and dreamed a second dream: And seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, full and good. 6And, then, seven thin and blighted ears with the east wind sprung up after them. 7And the seven thin ears devoured the seven fat and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and it had been a dream.

8And in the morning he was troubled; and he called for all the magicians, and the wise men of Egypt: and Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them for Pharaoh. 9Then the chief butler spoke up, and said, “This has caused me to recall my offenses: 10Pharaoh was angry with two of his servants; and put me and the chief baker in prison, in the captain of the guard's house. 11And in the same night we each had a dream, both the baker and I; and each dream had its own meaning - if it could only be interpreted. 12And with us was a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us; giving each of us the meaning of our dream. 13And each turned out just as he had interpreted them for us: you restored me to my office, and you hanged him.”

14Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they hastily brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved and changed clothes, he was brought into the presence of Pharaoh. 15And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one that can interpret it: but I have heard it said of you, that when you are told a dream, you can understand and interpret it.” 16And Joseph answered Pharaoh, “That ability is not within me; but God shall give Pharaoh an answer and put you at ease.” 17And Pharaoh told Joseph, “In my dream, I stood upon the bank of the Nile River: 18And then seven sleek and plump cows came up out of the river; and they grazed in a meadow: 19And then seven other cows came up after them, ugly, gaunt and lean fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for wretchedness: 20And these gaunt and ill-favored cows ate up those first seven plump cows: 21And when they had eaten them, it could not be told that they had eaten them - they were still as wretched looking as before. Then I awoke. 22And then I had a second dream: and seven ears came up on one stalk, full and good: 23And then seven withered, thin, and blighted ears, with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. I told these dreams to the magicians; but none could declare their meaning to me.”

25And Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one and the same: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are also seven years: the dream is one. 27And the seven ugly, gaunt and lean-fleshed cows that came up after the plump cows are seven years; and the seven empty blighted ears with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28This is just what I have said to Pharaoh: What God is about to do He has revealed to Pharaoh. 29There shall be seven years of great abundance throughout all the land of Egypt: 30But they shall be followed by seven years of famine; and all that former abundance shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31And memories of the abundance in the land shall be lost because of the grievous years of famine that follow. 32That is the reason the dream was shown to Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33Now therefore, let Pharaoh seek for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up one-fifth of the harvest in the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay away grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them store food in the cities. 36And that food shall be held in reserve in the land against the seven years of famine, which shall follow in the land of Egypt; so that the land does not perish from the famine.”

37And the plan seemed good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and of all his officials. 38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this man - a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” 39And then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, it is clear that no one is more discerning and wise than you. 40And so, you shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people shall be ruled by and be obedient to your word. Only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41And Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “Look, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42And Pharaoh took his ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck; 43And he had him ride in the kingdom’s second chariot; and they shouted before him, “Clear the way! Bow the knee”: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift a hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45And Pharaoh gave Joseph the name “Zaphenath-paneah” (food of life); and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On, for a wife. And Joseph became ruler over all the land of Egypt. 46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And when Joseph left the presence of Pharaoh, he went to inspect of all the land of Egypt. 47And in those seven plenteous years the earth brought forth abundantly. 48And he gathered up all the food of those seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and stored the food in the cities: the food of the fields around every city, he laid up in the same fashion. 49And Joseph gathered grain like the sand of the sea - so much, that he ceased counting; for it was beyond counting.

50And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On, bore to him. 51And Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh (causing to forget): “For God”, said he, “has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.” 52And he named the second son Ephraim (fruitfulness): “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53And then the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt ended. 54And the ensued seven years of famine, just as Joseph had said. The famine was felt in all lands; but in the entire land of Egypt, there was food. 55And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for food; and Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he tells you to do, you do.” 56And as the famine spread across the face of the earth, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; because the famine was severely felt in the land of Egypt. 57And all the other countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph; because the famine was so severely felt in all countries.