This is the account(A) of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph,(B) a young man of seventeen,(C) was tending the flocks(D) with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah(E) and the sons of Zilpah,(F) his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report(G) about them.

Now Israel(H) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons,(I) because he had been born to him in his old age;(J) and he made an ornate[a] robe(K) for him.(L) When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him(M) and could not speak a kind word to him.

Joseph had a dream,(N) and when he told it to his brothers,(O) they hated him all the more.(P) He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves(Q) of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”(R)

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?”(S) And they hated him all the more(T) because of his dream and what he had said.

Then he had another dream,(U) and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars(V) were bowing down to me.”(W)

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers,(X) his father rebuked(Y) him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”(Z) 11 His brothers were jealous of him,(AA) but his father kept the matter in mind.(AB)

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem,(AC) 13 and Israel(AD) said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem.(AE) Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers(AF) and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.(AG)

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.(AH)’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.(AI)

19 “Here comes that dreamer!(AJ)” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns(AK) and say that a ferocious animal(AL) devoured him.(AM) Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”(AN)

21 When Reuben(AO) heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.(AP) 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern(AQ) here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.(AR)

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe(AS) he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern.(AT) The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites(AU) coming from Gilead.(AV) Their camels were loaded with spices, balm(AW) and myrrh,(AX) and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.(AY)

26 Judah(AZ) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?(BA) 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,(BB) our own flesh and blood.(BC)” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite(BD) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern(BE) and sold(BF) him for twenty shekels[b] of silver(BG) to the Ishmaelites,(BH) who took him to Egypt.(BI)

29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.(BJ) 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”(BK)

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe,(BL) slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.(BM) 32 They took the ornate robe(BN) back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal(BO) has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”(BP)

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes,(BQ) put on sackcloth(BR) and mourned for his son many days.(BS) 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,(BT) but he refused to be comforted.(BU) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son(BV) in the grave.(BW)” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites[c](BX) sold Joseph(BY) in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.(BZ)

Judah and Tamar

38 At that time, Judah(CA) left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam(CB) named Hirah.(CC) There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua.(CD) He married her and made love to her; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er.(CE) She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan.(CF) She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah.(CG) It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.(CH) But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight;(CI) so the Lord put him to death.(CJ)

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.”(CK) But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.(CL)

11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law(CM) Tamar,(CN) “Live as a widow in your father’s household(CO) until my son Shelah(CP) grows up.”(CQ) For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua,(CR) died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah,(CS) to the men who were shearing his sheep,(CT) and his friend Hirah the Adullamite(CU) went with him.

13 When Tamar(CV) was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,”(CW) 14 she took off her widow’s clothes,(CX) covered herself with a veil(CY) to disguise herself, and then sat down(CZ) at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah.(DA) For she saw that, though Shelah(DB) had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute,(DC) for she had covered her face. 16 Not realizing(DD) that she was his daughter-in-law,(DE) he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”(DF)

“And what will you give me to sleep with you?”(DG) she asked.

17 “I’ll send you a young goat(DH) from my flock,” he said.

“Will you give me something as a pledge(DI) until you send it?” she asked.

18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?”

“Your seal(DJ) and its cord, and the staff(DK) in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.(DL) 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes(DM) again.

20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite(DN) in order to get his pledge(DO) back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute(DP) who was beside the road at Enaim?”

“There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said.

22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’”

23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has,(DQ) or we will become a laughingstock.(DR) After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.”

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.”

Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!”(DS)

25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.”(DT)

26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I,(DU) since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.(DV)” And he did not sleep with her again.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.(DW) 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife(DX) took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist(DY) and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out,(DZ) and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez.[d](EA) 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist,(EB) came out. And he was named Zerah.[e](EC)

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39 Now Joseph(ED) had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard,(EE) bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.(EF)

The Lord was with Joseph(EG) so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him(EH) and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,(EI) Joseph found favor in his eyes(EJ) and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household,(EK) and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.(EL) From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household(EM) of the Egyptian because of Joseph.(EN) The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.(EO) So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care;(EP) with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,(EQ) and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”(ER)

But he refused.(ES) “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.(ET) No one is greater in this house than I am.(EU) My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”(EV) 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused(EW) to go to bed with her or even be with her.

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties,(EX) and none of the household servants(EY) was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak(EZ) and said, “Come to bed with me!”(FA) But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.(FB)

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants.(FC) “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew(FD) has been brought to us to make sport of us!(FE) He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.(FF) 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”(FG)

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story:(FH) “That Hebrew(FI) slave(FJ) you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.(FK) 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison,(FL) the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him;(FM) he showed him kindness(FN) and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.(FO) 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.(FP) 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s(FQ) care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.(FR)

The Cupbearer and the Baker

40 Some time later, the cupbearer(FS) and the baker(FT) of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry(FU) with his two officials,(FV) the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,(FW) in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard(FX) assigned them to Joseph,(FY) and he attended them.

After they had been in custody(FZ) for some time, each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream(GA) the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(GB)

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody(GC) with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”(GD)

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”(GE)

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God?(GF) Tell me your dreams.”

So the chief cupbearer(GG) told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed,(GH) and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

12 “This is what it means,(GI)” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days.(GJ) 13 Within three days(GK) Pharaoh will lift up your head(GL) and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.(GM) 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me(GN) and show me kindness;(GO) mention me to Pharaoh(GP) and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews,(GQ) and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”(GR)

16 When the chief baker(GS) saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation,(GT) he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets(GU) of bread.[f] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days.(GV) 19 Within three days(GW) Pharaoh will lift off your head(GX) and impale your body on a pole.(GY) And the birds will eat away your flesh.”(GZ)

20 Now the third day(HA) was Pharaoh’s birthday,(HB) and he gave a feast for all his officials.(HC) He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker(HD) in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer(HE) to his position,(HF) so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand(HG) 22 but he impaled the chief baker,(HH) just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.(HI)

23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.(HJ)

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:(HK) He was standing by the Nile,(HL) when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,(HM) and they grazed among the reeds.(HN) After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.(HO)

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,(HP) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.(HQ) The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;(HR) it had been a dream.

In the morning his mind was troubled,(HS) so he sent for all the magicians(HT) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.(HU)

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.(HV) 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,(HW) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.(HX) 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.(HY) 12 Now a young Hebrew(HZ) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.(IA) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.(IB) 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.(IC)

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.(ID) When he had shaved(IE) and changed his clothes,(IF) he came before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.(IG) But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(IH)

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”(II)

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,(IJ) 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.(IK) 19 After 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. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But 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 heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.(IL)

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.(IM) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.(IN) 26 The seven good cows(IO) are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.(IP)

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.(IQ) 29 Seven years of great abundance(IR) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine(IS) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.(IT) 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided(IU) by God, and God will do it soon.(IV)

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(IW) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(IX) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(IY) over the land to take a fifth(IZ) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(JA) 35 They 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.(JB) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(JC) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(JD) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[g]?”(JE)

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(JF) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(JG) 40 You shall be in charge of my palace,(JH) and all my people are to submit to your orders.(JI) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.(JJ)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 37:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verses 23 and 32.
  2. Genesis 37:28 That is, about 8 ounces or about 230 grams
  3. Genesis 37:36 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 28); Masoretic Text Medanites
  4. Genesis 38:29 Perez means breaking out.
  5. Genesis 38:30 Zerah can mean scarlet or brightness.
  6. Genesis 40:16 Or three wicker baskets
  7. Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

38 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.

And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.

And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.

And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.

11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.

21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.

22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.

23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.

26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

40 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:

17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.

21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

41 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

And, 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.

And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.

And 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.

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:

11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

12 And 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.

13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

14 Then 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.

15 And 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.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

19 And, 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:

20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

21 And 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.

22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

24 And 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.

25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.

27 And 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.

28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

30 And 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;

31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

32 And 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.

33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

34 Let 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.

35 And 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.

36 And 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.

37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40 Thou 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.