Genesis 41:1-36

Thomson^{(i) 1} But it happened that at the end of two years Pharao had a dream. He thought he was standing by the river; ² and lo! there came up out of the river seven cows of a beautiful figure and very fat; and they fed on the sedge. ³ And seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and lean; and they fed near the other cows on the bank of the river; ⁴ and the seven ill favoured and lean cows devoured the seven cows which were of a beautiful figure and full of flesh. And Pharao awoke. ⁵ Again he dreamed a second time; and lo! seven ears of corn sprang upon one stalk, choice and good: ⁶ and lo! seven ears thin and blasted sprang up after them. ⁷ And the seven thin and blasted ears devoured the seven ears which were choice and full. And Pharao awoke; and it was a dream. ⁸ And in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent for all the interpreters of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof, and told them his dream, but there was none who could interpret it to Pharao. ⁹ Upon this the chief butler spoke to Pharao, saying, I this day acknowledge my fault. ¹⁰ Pharao was angry with his servants, and ordered us to be confined in the house of the captain of the guards; both me and the chief baker. ¹¹ And both I and he had a dream the same night, each had a dream regarding himself. ¹² And there was there with us a youth, a Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us. ¹³ And it fell out as he interpreted to us: I was restored to my office; but he was hanged. ¹⁴ Upon this Pharao sent for Joseph, and they brought him out of the prison. And when they had shaved him and changed his raiment, he came to Pharao. ¹⁵ And Pharao said to Joseph, I have had a dream and there is none who can interpret it. But I have heard people say of thee, that upon hearing dreams thou canst interpret them. ¹⁶ In reply to which, Joseph said to Pharao, Without God no answer of peace can be given to Pharao. ¹⁷ Then Pharao spoke to Joseph saying, In my sleep I thought I was standing near the edge of the river; ¹⁸ and there came up as it were out of the river, seven cows of a beautiful figure, and very fat; and they fed on the sedge. ¹⁹ And lo! seven other cows came up after them, out of the river, ugly and ill favoured and lean of flesh; such that I never saw worse in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ And the seven ill favoured and lean cows devoured the first seven cows which were choice and good. ²¹ But though they devoured them, they gave no sign of fulnes. Their appearance was as ugly as before. Then I awoke and again went to sleep, ²² and in my sleep I again saw as if seven ears of corn sprang up, on one stalk, full and good; ²³ and adjoining them seven other ears sprang up, thin and blasted. ²⁴ And the seven thin and blasted ears devoured the seven ears which were full and good. Now I have told the interpreters; but there is not one who can interpret this to me. ²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharao, The dream of Pharao is one. God hath shewn Pharao what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven beautiful cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years. The dream of Pharao is one. ²⁷ The seven lean cows also which came up after them are seven years; and the seven thin and blasted ears are seven years. There shall be seven years of famine. ²⁸ This is the thing which I have said to Pharao, God hath shewn Pharao what he is about to do. ²⁹ Behold seven years are coming of great plenty in all the land of Egypt. ³⁰ But after these there will come seven years of famine. And they will cause the coming plenty to be forgotten in all Egypt. And the famine will consume the land, ³¹ so that the plenty will not be known in the land, by reason of the famine which will come after it: for it will be very great. ³² And in as much as the dream of Pharao was doubled, the thing which God had determined will surely come to pass; and God is hasting to do it. ³³ Now therefore look out for a man of prudence and understanding, and set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ And let Pharao appoint and set governors of districts over the whole land, and let them send in a fifth of all the products of the land of Egypt, during the seven years of plenty, ³⁵ and collect all the eatables of those seven good years which are coming. And let food be collected under the care of Pharao, and eatables stored in the cities. ³⁶ So shall food be kept in the country, against the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt, and the country will not be wasted with the famine.