²⁹ Seven years of great abundance^(A) are coming throughout the land of Egypt, ³⁰ but seven years of famine^(B) will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.^(C)

³³ “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man^(A) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.^{(B) 34} Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners^(C) over the land to take a fifth^(D) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.^{(E) 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.^{(F) 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,^(G) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

⁵² The second son he named Ephraim^[a](A) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful^(B) 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^(C) began,^(D) 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,^(E) the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”^(F)