Genesis, Chapter 41:

Verses from Genesis, Chapter 41 of the Book of Genesis of the Bible.

Pharaoh's dream

• 1. After two whole years, Pharaoh had a dream: he was standing by the Nile,
• 2. when, suddenly, seven cows, beautiful and fat, came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.
• 3. Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up from the Nile and stopped next to the first ones on the bank of the Nile.
• 4. The ugly and thin cows devoured the seven beautiful and fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
• 5. He went back to sleep and had another dream: Seven ears of wheat, healthy and good, grew on a single stalk.
• 6. Then seven more ears of corn sprouted, withered and scorched by the east wind.
• 7. The thin ears swallowed the seven healthy and full ears. Then Pharaoh woke up; was a dream.
• 8. The next morning, troubled in his spirit, he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. He told them his dreams, but no one was able to interpret them for him.
• 9. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh: “Today I remember my faults.
• 10. Once, when Pharaoh was angry with his servants, he sent me and the chief baker to the house of the captain of the guard.
• 11. We both dreamed that same night, each one with a dream, and each dream with its own interpretation.
• 12. There was a young Hebrew man there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each of us our own interpretation.
• 13. And everything happened as he told us: I was restored to my position, and the baker was hanged.”
• 14. Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was immediately taken out of prison. He shaved, changed his clothes and went to present himself to Pharaoh.
• 15. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I heard about you, that when you hear a dream, you are able to interpret it.”
• 16. Joseph replied to Pharaoh: “It is not in me, but God will give a favorable answer to Pharaoh.”
• 17. Then Pharaoh told Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,
• 18. when suddenly seven fat and beautiful cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds.
• 19. Then seven other cows came up, thin and very ugly. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.
• 20. The thin and ugly cows devoured the seven fat cows that had appeared first.
• 21. But after devouring them, it was not noticeable that they had devoured them; they looked as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
• 22. Later I had another dream. I saw seven ears of wheat, full and good, growing on a single stalk.
• 23. Then seven more ears of corn sprouted, thin, withered and scorched by the east wind.
• 24. The thin ears swallowed the seven full and good ears. I told the magicians this, but none of them were able to interpret it for me.”
• 25. Joseph said to Pharaoh: “Pharaoh's dreams are one. God revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
• 26. The seven beautiful cows are seven years, and the seven full and good ears are also seven years; the two dreams are one.
• 27. The seven lean and ugly cows that came after the first are seven years, and the seven withered ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, are seven years of famine.
• 28. This is what Pharaoh said. God showed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
• 29. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
• 30. but they will be followed by seven years of famine. The abundance in the land will be forgotten because of the famine that will follow it, as this will be so terrible.
• 31. As for the fact that the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice, it means that the thing is firmly decided on God's part, and that God hastens to bring it about.
• 32. Therefore, Pharaoh must look for a judicious and wise man to put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
• 33. Pharaoh must also arrange for commissioners to be appointed, charged with collecting one-fifth of Egypt's harvest during the seven years of plenty.
• 34. They must gather all the food of the good years that are coming and store the wheat under the authority of Pharaoh, keeping it in the cities, so that there will be enough food.
• 35. This food will serve as a reserve for the country during the seven years of famine that will be in Egypt. This way, the country will not be ruined by hunger.”
• 36. The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and all his advisors.
• 37. So Pharaoh asked his counselors, “Can we find someone like this man, in whom is the spirit of God?”
• 38. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed all these things to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
• 39. You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will submit to your orders. Only in relation to the throne will I be greater than you.”
• 40. And Pharaoh continued: “I give you the command of all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph, governor of Egypt

• 41. And taking his signet ring from his finger, Pharaoh put it on Joseph's finger, dressed him in fine linen clothes, and put a golden necklace around his neck.
• 42. Then he ordered him to mount his second most beautiful carriage, and the shouts of joy went before him. In this way, Joseph was placed in charge of the entire land of Egypt.
• 43. He also ordered everyone to kneel before him and proclaim him governor, so that his command would extend over all Egypt.
• 44. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will lift up hand or foot in all Egypt.”
• 45. Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath Paneia and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went through all the land of Egypt.
• 46. Joseph was thirty years old when he presented himself to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And he left the presence of Pharaoh, and passed through all the land of Egypt.
• 47. During the seven years of plenty, the land produced great harvests.
• 48. Joseph collected all the food produced in Egypt during the seven years of plenty and stored it in the cities. In each city he placed food harvested from the surrounding land.
• 49. Joseph stored both wheat and sand from the sea; There was so much wheat that he stopped counting, because there was no end.
• 50. Before the beginning of the famine, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.
• 51. To the first he named Manasseh, saying: “God has made me forget all my suffering and all my father's house.”
• 52. He named his second son Ephraim, saying, “God has made me prosper in the land of my affliction.”
• 53. The seven years of plenty in Egypt came to an end,
• 54. and they gave way to seven years of famine, as Joseph had predicted. There was famine in all lands, but throughout Egypt there was food.
• 55. When all of Egypt began to feel hungry, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. And Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go talk to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”
• 56. When the famine spread throughout the country, Joseph opened all the barns and sold grain to the Egyptians, as the famine was severe throughout Egypt.
• 57. And from all lands they came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

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