Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:^(A) He was standing by the Nile,^{(B) 2} when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat,^(C) and they grazed among the reeds.^{(D) 3} After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. ⁴ And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.^(E)

⁵ He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain,^(F) healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. ⁶ After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.^{(G) 7} The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up;^(H) it had been a dream.

⁸ In the morning his mind was troubled,^(I) so he sent for all the magicians^(J) and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.^(K)

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.^{(L) 10} Pharaoh was once angry with his servants,^(M) and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.^{(N) 11} Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.^{(O) 12} Now a young Hebrew^(P) was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard.^(Q) We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.^{(R) 13} And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.^(S)”

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon.^(T) When he had shaved^(U) and changed his clothes,^(V) he came before Pharaoh.

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

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

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile,^{(Z) 18} when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.^{(AA) 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.^(AB)”

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same.^(AC) God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.^{(AD) 26} The seven good cows^(AE) 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.^(AF)

²⁸ “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.^{(AG) 29} Seven years of great abundance^(AH) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, ³⁰ but seven years of famine^(AI) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.^{(AJ) 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^(AK) by God, and God will do it soon.^(AL)

³³ “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man^(AM) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.^{(AN) 34} Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners^(AO) over the land to take a fifth^(AP) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.^{(AQ) 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.^{(AR) 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,^(AS) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

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

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,^(AV) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.^{(AW) 40} You shall be in charge of my palace,^(AX) and all my people are to submit to your orders.^(AY) Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.^(AZ)”

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”^{(BA) 42} Then Pharaoh took his signet ring^(BB) from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes^(BC) of fine linen^(BD) and put a gold chain around his neck.^{(BE) 43} He had him ride in a chariot^(BF) as his second-in-command,^[b](BG) and people shouted before him, “Make way^[c]!”^(BH) Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.^(BI)

⁴⁴ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”^{(BJ) 45} Pharaoh gave Joseph^(BK) the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest^(BL) of On,^[d](BM) to be his wife.^(BN) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old^(BO) when he entered the service^(BP) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven years of abundance^(BQ) the land produced plentifully. ⁴⁸ Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities.^(BR) In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. ⁴⁹ Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea;^(BS) it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

⁵⁰ Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.^{(BT) 51} Joseph named his firstborn^(BU) Manasseh^[e](BV) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” ⁵² The second son he named Ephraim^[f](BW) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful^(BX) in the land of my suffering.”

⁵³ The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine^(BY) began,^(BZ) just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. ⁵⁵ When all Egypt began to feel the famine,^(CA) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”^(CB)

⁵⁶ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians,^(CC) for the famine^(CD) was severe throughout Egypt.^{(CE) 57} And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph,^(CF) because the famine was severe everywhere.^(CG)

Joseph Makes Himself Known

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself^(A) before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”^(B) So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept^(C) so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.^(D)

³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”^(E) But his brothers were not able to answer him,^(F) because they were terrified at his presence.^(G)

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”^(H) When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!^{(I) 5} And now, do not be distressed^(J) and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,^(K) because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.^{(L) 6} For two years now there has been famine^(M) in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant^(N) on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a](O)

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.^(P) He made me father^(Q) to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.^{(R) 9} Now hurry^(S) back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.^{(T) 10} You shall live in the region of Goshen^(U) and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.^{(V) 11} I will provide for you there,^(W) because five years of famine^(X) are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’^(Y)

¹² “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,^(Z) that it is really I who am speaking to you.^{(AA) 13} Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt^(AB) and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.^(AC)”

¹⁴ Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin^(AD) embraced him,^(AE) weeping. ¹⁵ And he kissed^(AF) all his brothers and wept over them.^(AG) Afterward his brothers talked with him.^(AH)

¹⁶ When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come,^(AI) Pharaoh and all his officials^(AJ) were pleased.^{(AK) 17} Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals^(AL) and return to the land of Canaan,^{(AM) 18} and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt^(AN) and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’^(AO)

¹⁹ “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts^(AP) from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. ²⁰ Never mind about your belongings,^(AQ) because the best of all Egypt^(AR) will be yours.’”

²¹ So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts,^(AS) as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.^{(AT) 22} To each of them he gave new clothing,^(AU) but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels^[b] of silver and five sets of clothes.^{(AV) 23} And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys^(AW) loaded with the best things^(AX) of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.^{(AY) 24} Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”^(AZ)

²⁵ So they went up out of Egypt^(BA) and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.^{(BB) 26} They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”^(BC) Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.^{(BD) 27} But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts^(BE) Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. ²⁸ And Israel said, “I’m convinced!^(BF) My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”^(BG)

50 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.^{(A) 2} Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him,^{(B) 3} taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.^(C)

⁴ When the days of mourning^(D) had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court,^(E) “If I have found favor in your eyes,^(F) speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, ⁵ ‘My father made me swear an oath^(G) and said, “I am about to die;^(H) bury me in the tomb I dug for myself^(I) in the land of Canaan.”^(J) Now let me go up and bury my father;^(K) then I will return.’”

⁶ Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

⁷ So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials^(L) accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court^(M) and all the dignitaries of Egypt— ⁸ besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household.^(N) Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.^{(O) 9} Chariots^(P) and horsemen^[a] also went up with him. It was a very large company.

¹⁰ When they reached the threshing floor^(Q) of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly;^(R) and there Joseph observed a seven-day period^(S) of mourning^(T) for his father.^{(U) 11} When the Canaanites^(V) who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.”^(W) That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.^[b]

¹² So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them:^{(X) 13} They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah,^(Y) near Mamre,^(Z) which Abraham had bought along with the field^(AA) as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.^{(AB) 14} After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.^(AC)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge^(AD) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”^{(AE) 16} So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions^(AF) before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins^(AG) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’^(AH) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.^(AI)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.^(AJ)

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.^(AK) “We are your slaves,”^(AL) they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?^{(AM) 20} You intended to harm me,^(AN) but God intended^(AO) it for good^(AP) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.^{(AQ) 21} So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.^(AR)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly^(AS) to them.

The Death of Joseph

²² Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years^{(AT) 23} and saw the third generation^(AU) of Ephraim’s^(AV) children.^(AW) Also the children of Makir^(AX) son of Manasseh^(AY) were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.^[c](AZ)

²⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.^(BA) But God will surely come to your aid^(BB) and take you up out of this land to the land^(BC) he promised on oath to Abraham,^(BD) Isaac^(BE) and Jacob.”^{(BF) 25} And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath^(BG) and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones^(BH) up from this place.”^(BI)

²⁶ So Joseph died^(BJ) at the age of a hundred and ten.^(BK) And after they embalmed him,^(BL) he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.