Pharaoh’s Two Dreams

41:1-36

41 Then it happened at the end of two years of days that Pharaoh was dreaming and behold, he was standing beside the river. 2 Then behold, from the river came up seven cows, fine-looking and fat-fleshed, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the river, ugly-looking and thin-fleshed, and they stood beside the other cows on the bank of the river. 4 Then the ugly-looking and thin-fleshed cows ate the seven fine-looking and fat cows, and Pharaoh woke up.

5 Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, fat and good. 6 Then behold, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted after them. 7 Then the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven fat and full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up, and behold, it was a dream.

8 Then it happened in the morning that his spirit was agitated, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Then Pharaoh told his dreams to them, but no one could interpret them for Pharaoh. 9 Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh, saying, “Today I remember my offenses. 10 Pharaoh broke out in anger against his servants, and he put me in custody in the house of the chief of the guards, me and the chief of the bakers. 11 And we dreamed a dream in the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 Now there with us was a young Hebrew man, a servant for the chief of the guards. And we told our dreams to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. He interpreted for each according to his dream. 13 And it happened, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened: me he restored to my position, and him he hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph. So they quickly brought him from the pit. Then he shaved and changed his clothes and came to Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I dreamed a dream, but no one could interpret it. But I heard about you, saying that you hear a dream and are able to interpret it.” 16 And Joseph responded to Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will answer with Pharaoh’s peace.”

17 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the river. 18 Then behold, from the river came up seven cows, fat-fleshed and of fine form, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly of form and thin-fleshed. I have not seen cows as ugly as those in all the land of Egypt! 20 Then the thin and ugly cows ate the first seven fat cows. 21 So they went into their bellies, but it could not be known that they had gone into their bellies, and their appearance was just as ugly as at the beginning. Then I woke up.

22 “Then I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good. 23 Then behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin and scorched by the east wind sprouted after them. 24 Then the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. And I told this to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one. What God is doing he has shown to Pharaoh. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven thin heads of grain scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine. 28 That is the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh: What God is doing he has shown to Pharaoh. 29 Behold, seven years are coming of great abundance in all the land of Egypt. 30 But seven years of famine will rise up after them, so that all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will consume the land. 31 And the abundance in the land will not be remembered because of that famine after it, because it will be very heavy. 32 And as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it is because the matter has been established by God, and God will soon do it.

33 “And now let Pharaoh seek a man who is discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this: Let him set supervisors over the land, and let him take a fifth of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. 35 And they should gather all the food of the good years that are coming. And they should store that grain under Pharaoh’s hand for food in the cities and guard it. 36 And the food should be in reserve for the land for the seven years of famine that will come on the land of Egypt, so that the land will not be cut off by the famine.”