1Und nach zwei Jahren hatte der Pharao einen Traum, und siehe, er stand am Nil,2und aus dem Wasser stiegen sieben schöne, fette Kühe; die weideten im Grase.3Und siehe, nach diesen stiegen sieben andere Kühe aus dem Wasser; die waren hässlich und mager und traten neben die Kühe am Ufer des Nils.4Und die hässlichen und mageren Kühe fraßen die sieben schönen, fetten Kühe. Da erwachte der Pharao.5Und er schlief wieder ein. Und ihm träumte abermals: Sieben Ähren wuchsen aus einem Halm, voll und dick.6Und siehe, sieben dünne Ähren gingen auf, die waren vom Ostwind versengt.7Und die mageren Ähren verschlangen die sieben dicken und vollen Ähren. Da erwachte der Pharao und merkte, dass es ein Traum war.8Und als es Morgen wurde, war sein Geist bekümmert, und er schickte aus und ließ rufen alle Wahrsager in Ägypten und alle Weisen und erzählte ihnen seine Träume. Aber da war keiner, der sie dem Pharao deuten konnte. (Dan 2,2)9Da redete der Oberste der Mundschenken zum Pharao und sprach: Ich muss heute an meine Sünden denken:10Als der Pharao zornig wurde über seine Knechte und mich mit dem Obersten der Bäcker ins Gefängnis legte im Hause des Obersten der Leibwache,11da träumte uns beiden in einer Nacht einem jeden sein Traum, dessen Deutung ihn betraf.12Da war bei uns ein hebräischer Jüngling, der Knecht des Obersten der Leibwache, dem erzählten wir’s. Und er deutete uns unsere Träume, einem jeden nach seinem Traum.13Und wie er uns deutete, so ist’s gekommen; denn ich bin wieder in mein Amt gesetzt, aber jener wurde aufgehängt.14Da sandte der Pharao hin und ließ Josef rufen, und sie ließen ihn eilends aus dem Gefängnis. Und er ließ sich scheren und zog andere Kleider an und kam hinein zum Pharao.15Da sprach der Pharao zu ihm: Ich habe einen Traum gehabt und es ist niemand, der ihn deuten kann. Ich habe aber von dir sagen hören, wenn du einen Traum hörst, so kannst du ihn deuten.16Josef antwortete dem Pharao und sprach: Das steht nicht bei mir; Gott wird jedoch dem Pharao Gutes verkünden. (1Mo 40,8; Ps 105,20; Dan 5,14)17Der Pharao sprach zu Josef: Mir träumte, und siehe, ich stand am Ufer des Nils,18und aus dem Wasser stiegen sieben schöne, fette Kühe; die weideten im Grase.19Und siehe, nach diesen stiegen sieben dürre, sehr hässliche und magere Kühe heraus. Ich hab in ganz Ägyptenland nicht so hässliche gesehen.20Und die mageren und hässlichen Kühe fraßen die sieben ersten, fetten Kühe auf.21Sie verschwanden in ihrem Bauch, aber man merkte es den mageren nicht an; sie waren so hässlich wie zuvor. Da wachte ich auf.22Dann sah ich in meinem Traum sieben Ähren auf einem Halm wachsen, voll und dick.23Und siehe, sieben dürre Ähren gingen auf, dünn und vom Ostwind versengt.24Und die sieben dünnen Ähren verschlangen die sieben dicken Ähren. Und ich habe es den Wahrsagern gesagt, aber die können’s mir nicht deuten.25Josef antwortete dem Pharao: Beide Träume des Pharao bedeuten das Gleiche. Gott verkündet dem Pharao, was er vorhat.26Die sieben schönen Kühe sind sieben Jahre, und die sieben guten Ähren sind dieselben sieben Jahre. Es ist ein und derselbe Traum.27Die sieben mageren und hässlichen Kühe, die nach jenen aufgestiegen sind, das sind sieben Jahre, und die sieben mageren und versengten Ähren sind sieben Jahre des Hungers.28Das meinte ich, wenn ich gesagt habe zum Pharao, dass Gott dem Pharao zeigt, was er vorhat.29Siehe, sieben reiche Jahre werden kommen in ganz Ägyptenland.30Und nach ihnen werden sieben Jahre des Hungers kommen, sodass man vergessen wird alle Fülle in Ägyptenland. Und der Hunger wird das Land verzehren,31dass man nichts wissen wird von der Fülle im Lande vor der Hungersnot, die danach kommt; denn sie wird sehr schwer sein.32Dass aber dem Pharao zweimal geträumt hat, bedeutet, dass Gott solches gewiss und eilends tun wird.33Nun sehe der Pharao nach einem verständigen und weisen Mann, den er über Ägyptenland setze,34und sorge dafür, dass er Amtleute verordne im Lande und nehme den Fünften in Ägyptenland in den sieben reichen Jahren35und lasse sie sammeln den ganzen Ertrag der guten Jahre, die kommen werden, dass sie Getreide aufschütten im Auftrag des Pharao zum Vorrat in den Städten und es verwahren.36Der Ertrag diene dem Land als Vorrat in den sieben Jahren des Hungers, die über Ägyptenland kommen werden, dass das Land nicht vor Hunger verderbe.
Josefs Aufstieg
37Die Rede gefiel dem Pharao und allen seinen Knechten gut. (Spr 14,35)38Und der Pharao sprach zu seinen Knechten: Wie könnten wir einen Mann wie diesen finden, in dem der Geist Gottes ist? (Spr 2,6)39Und der Pharao sprach zu Josef: Weil dir Gott dies alles kundgetan hat, ist keiner so verständig und weise wie du.40Du sollst über mein Haus sein, und deinem Wort soll all mein Volk gehorsam sein; allein um den königlichen Thron will ich höher sein als du.41Und weiter sprach der Pharao zu Josef: Siehe, ich habe dich über ganz Ägyptenland gesetzt.42Und er tat seinen Siegelring von seiner Hand und gab ihn Josef an seine Hand und kleidete ihn in kostbares Leinen und legte ihm eine goldene Kette um seinen Hals (Est 3,10; Dan 5,29)43und ließ ihn auf seinem zweiten Wagen fahren und ließ vor ihm her ausrufen: Auf die Knie! Und setzte ihn über ganz Ägyptenland. (Est 10,3)44Und der Pharao sprach zu Josef: Ich bin der Pharao, aber ohne deinen Willen soll niemand seine Hand oder seinen Fuß regen in ganz Ägyptenland.45Und er nannte ihn Zafenat-Paneach und gab ihm zur Frau Asenat, die Tochter Potiferas, des Priesters zu On. Also zog Josef aus, das Land Ägypten zu besehen.46Und Josef war dreißig Jahre alt, als er vor dem Pharao stand, dem König von Ägypten. Und er ging hinweg vom Pharao und zog durch ganz Ägyptenland. (1Mo 37,2)
Josefs Fürsorge für Ägypten. Die Geburt seiner Söhne
47Und das Land trug in den sieben reichen Jahren die Fülle.48Und Josef sammelte die ganze Ernte der sieben Jahre, da Überfluss im Lande Ägypten war, und tat sie in die Städte. Was an Getreide auf dem Felde rings um eine jede Stadt wuchs, das tat er hinein.49So schüttete Josef das Getreide auf, über die Maßen viel wie Sand am Meer, sodass er aufhörte zu zählen; denn man konnte es nicht zählen.50Und Josef wurden zwei Söhne geboren, bevor die Hungerzeit kam; die gebar ihm Asenat, die Tochter Potiferas, des Priesters zu On.51Und er nannte den ersten Manasse; denn Gott, sprach er, hat mich vergessen lassen all mein Unglück und mein ganzes Vaterhaus.52Den andern nannte er Ephraim: Denn Gott hat mich wachsen lassen in dem Lande meines Elends.53Als nun die sieben reichen Jahre um waren im Lande Ägypten,54da fingen an die sieben Hungerjahre zu kommen, wie Josef gesagt hatte. Und es ward eine Hungersnot in allen Landen, aber in ganz Ägyptenland war Brot.55Als nun ganz Ägyptenland auch Hunger litt, schrie das Volk zum Pharao um Brot. Aber der Pharao sprach zu allen Ägyptern: Geht hin zu Josef; was der euch sagt, das tut.56Als nun im ganzen Lande Hungersnot war, tat Josef alle Kornhäuser auf und verkaufte den Ägyptern; denn der Hunger ward je länger, je größer im Lande.57Und alle Welt kam nach Ägypten, um bei Josef zu kaufen; denn der Hunger war groß in allen Landen.
1After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,2and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.3And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.4And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke.5And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.6And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. (Hes 17,10; Hes 19,12; Hos 13,15)7And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.8So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh. (1Mo 41,24; 2Mo 7,11; 2Mo 7,22; Ps 77,4; Dan 1,20; Dan 2,1; Dan 2,2; Dan 2,3; Dan 4,7; Mt 2,1)9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today.10When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, (1Mo 39,20; 1Mo 40,2)11we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. (1Mo 40,5)12A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. (1Mo 40,12)13And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.” (1Mo 40,21)14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. (1Sam 2,8; Ps 105,20; Ps 113,7; Dan 2,25)15And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” (1Mo 41,12; Dan 5,16)16Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”[1] (1Mo 40,8; Dan 2,22; Dan 2,28; Dan 2,30; Dan 2,47)17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. (1Mo 41,1)18Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.19Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt.20And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows,21but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke.22I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good.23Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them,24and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” (1Mo 41,8; Dan 4,7)25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. (Dan 2,28; Dan 2,45; Offb 4,1)26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.27The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. (2Kön 8,1)28It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. (1Mo 41,25)29There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, (1Mo 41,47)30but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, (1Mo 41,54; 1Mo 45,6; 1Mo 47,13)31and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.32And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. (4Mo 23,19; Jes 14,24; Jes 46,10)33Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.34Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land[2] of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.35And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. (1Mo 41,48)36That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
Joseph Rises to Power
37This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”[3] (4Mo 27,18; Dan 4,8; Dan 4,18; Dan 5,11; Dan 5,14)39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.40You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.[4] Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” (Ps 105,21; Apg 7,10)41And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (1Mo 42,6)42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. (Est 3,10; Est 8,2; Est 8,8; Est 8,10; Est 8,15; Hes 16,11; Dan 5,7; Dan 5,29)43And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”[5] Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. (1Mo 41,40; 1Mo 42,6; 1Mo 45,8; 1Mo 45,26; Est 6,9)44Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” (Ps 105,21)45And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. (1Sam 16,21; 1Kön 12,6; 1Kön 12,8; Dan 1,19)47During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly,48and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it.49And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. (1Mo 22,17; Ri 7,12; 1Sam 13,5; Ps 78,27)50Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. (1Mo 46,20; 1Mo 48,5)51Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”[6]52The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”[7] (1Mo 49,22; Hos 13,15)53The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end,54and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. (1Mo 41,30; Ps 105,16; Apg 7,11)55When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”56So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses[8] and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. (1Mo 42,6; 1Mo 47,14; 1Mo 47,20; 1Mo 47,24)57Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. (1Mo 41,54; 1Mo 41,56)
1.Mose 41
King James Version
1And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.2And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.3And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.4And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.5And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.6And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.7And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.8And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.9Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:10Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard' house, both me and the chief baker:11And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.12And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.13And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself , and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.15And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.16And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:18And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:19And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:20And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:21And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.22And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:23And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:24And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.25And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.26The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.27And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.28This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.29Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:30And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;31And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.32And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.33Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.34Let Pharaoh do this , and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.35And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.36And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.37And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.38And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is , a man in whom the Spirit of God is ?39And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art :40Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.41And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.42And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph' hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;43And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.44And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.45And Pharaoh called Joseph' name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.46And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.47And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.48And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.49And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.50And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.51And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he , hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father' house.52And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.53And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.54And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.55And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.56And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.57And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn ; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
1When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream. In his dream, he was standing by the River Nile.2Seven cows came up out of the river. They looked healthy and fat. They were eating some of the tall grass growing along the river.3After them, seven other cows came up out of the Nile. They looked ugly and skinny. They were standing beside the other cows on the riverbank.4The ugly, skinny cows ate up the seven cows that looked healthy and fat. Then Pharaoh woke up.5He fell asleep again and had a second dream. In that dream, seven ears of corn were growing on one stem. They were healthy and good.6After them, seven other ears of corn came up. They were thin and dried up by the east wind.7The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven healthy, full ears. Then Pharaoh woke up. It had been a dream.8In the morning he was worried. So he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams. But no one could tell him what they meant.9Then the chief wine taster spoke up. He said to Pharaoh, ‘Now I remember that I’ve done something wrong.10Pharaoh was once angry with his servants. He put me and the chief baker in prison. We were in the house of the captain of the palace guard.11Each of us had a dream the same night. Each dream had its own meaning.12A young Hebrew servant was there with us. He was a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams. And he explained them to us. He told each of us the meaning of our dreams.13Things turned out exactly as he said they would. I was given back my job. The other man had a pole stuck through his body.’14So Pharaoh sent for Joseph. He was quickly brought out of the prison. Joseph shaved and changed his clothes. Then he came to Pharaoh.15Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream. No one can tell me what it means. But I’ve heard that when you hear a dream you can explain it.’16‘I can’t do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh. ‘But God will give Pharaoh the answer he wants.’17Then Pharaoh told Joseph what he had dreamed. He said, ‘I was standing on the bank of the River Nile.18Seven cows came up out of the river. They were fat and looked healthy. They were eating the tall grass growing along the river.19After them, seven other cows came up. They were bony and very ugly and thin. I had never seen such ugly cows in the whole land of Egypt.20The thin, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.21But no one could tell that the thin cows had eaten the fat cows. That’s because the thin cows looked just as ugly as they had before. Then I woke up.22‘In my dream I also saw seven ears of corn. They were full and good. They were all growing on one stem.23After them, seven other ears of corn came up. They were weak and thin and dried up by the east wind.24The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven good ears. I told my dream to the magicians. But none of them could explain it to me.’25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘Both of Pharaoh’s dreams have the same meaning. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.26The seven good cows are seven years. And the seven good ears of corn are seven years. Both dreams mean the same thing.27The seven thin, ugly cows that came up later are seven years. So are the seven worthless ears of corn dried up by the east wind. They are seven years when there won’t be enough food.28‘It’s just as I said to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he’s about to do.29Seven years with plenty of food are coming to the whole land of Egypt.30But seven years when there won’t be enough food will follow them. Then everyone will forget about all the food Egypt had. Terrible hunger will destroy the land.31There won’t be anything left to remind people of the years when there was plenty of food in the land. That’s how bad the hunger that follows will be.32God gave the dream to Pharaoh in two forms. That’s because the matter has been firmly decided by God. And it’s because God will do it soon.33‘So Pharaoh should look for a wise and understanding man. He should put him in charge of the land of Egypt.34Pharaoh should appoint officials to be in charge of the land. They should take a fifth of the harvest in Egypt during the seven years when there’s plenty of food.35They should collect all the extra food of the good years that are coming. Pharaoh should give them authority to store up the corn. They should keep it in the cities for food.36The corn should be stored up for the country to use later. It will be needed during the seven years when there isn’t enough food in Egypt. Then the country won’t be destroyed just because it doesn’t have enough food.’37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and all his officials.38So Pharaoh said to them, ‘The spirit of God is in this man. We can’t find anyone else like him, can we?’39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘God has made all this known to you. No one is as wise and understanding as you are.40You will be in charge of my palace. All my people must obey your orders. I will be greater than you only because I’m the one who sits on the throne.’
Joseph is put in charge of Egypt
41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I’m putting you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’42Then Pharaoh took from his finger the ring he used to give his official stamp. He put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes made out of fine linen. He put a gold chain around Joseph’s neck.43He also made him ride in a chariot. Joseph was now next in command after Pharaoh. People went in front of Joseph and shouted, ‘Get down on your knees!’ By doing all these things, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt.44Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh. But unless you give an order, no one will do anything in the whole land of Egypt.’45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave Joseph a wife. She was Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On. Joseph travelled all over the land of Egypt.46Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He left Pharaoh’s palace and travelled all over Egypt.47During the seven years there was plenty of food. The land produced more than the people needed.48Joseph collected all the extra food produced in those seven years in Egypt. He stored it in the cities. In each city he stored up the food grown in the fields around it.49Joseph stored up huge amounts of corn. There was as much of it as sand by the sea. There was so much corn it couldn’t be measured. So Joseph stopped keeping records of it.50Before the years when there wasn’t enough food, two sons were born to Joseph. He had them by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On.51Joseph named his first son Manasseh. That’s because he said, ‘God has made me forget all my trouble and my father’s whole family.’52He named the second son Ephraim. That’s because he said, ‘God has given me children in the land where I’ve suffered so much.’53The seven years when there was plenty of food in Egypt came to an end.54Then the seven years when there wasn’t enough food began. It happened just as Joseph had said it would. There wasn’t enough food in any of the other lands. But in the whole land of Egypt there was food.55When all the people of Egypt began to get hungry, they cried out to Pharaoh for food. He told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you.’56There wasn’t enough food anywhere in the country. So Joseph opened the storerooms. He sold corn to the Egyptians because people were very hungry all over Egypt.57People from all over the world came to Egypt. They came to buy corn from Joseph. That’s because people were very hungry everywhere.
1When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,2when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.3After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.4And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.5He fell asleep again and had a second dream: seven ears of corn, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.6After them, seven other ears of corn sprouted – thin and scorched by the east wind.7The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven healthy, full ears. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.8In 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.9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, ‘Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.10Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.11Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.12Now 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.13And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.’14So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.15Pharaoh 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.’17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,18when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.19After 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.20The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.21But 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 dream I saw seven ears of corn, full and good, growing on a single stalk.23After them, seven other ears sprouted – withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.24The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven good ears. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.’25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years; it is one and the same dream.27The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterwards are seven years, and so are the seven worthless ears of corn 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.29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.32The 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.34Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.35They 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.36This 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.’37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.38So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[1]?’39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you.40You 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.’
Joseph in charge of Egypt
41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain round his neck.43He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,[2] and people shouted before him, ‘Make way[3]!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.44Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh, but without your word no-one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.’45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,[4] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and travelled throughout Egypt.47During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.48Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.49Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.50Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.51Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh[5] and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’52The second son he named Ephraim[6] and said, ‘It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’53The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,54and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.55When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.’56When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt.57And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.