JOSEPH BECOMES RULER
Genesis 41:1-43
1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh
dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there
came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed;
and they fed in a meadow. 3 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. 4 And the
ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well
favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and
dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up
upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and
blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven
thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh
awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream. 8 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. 9 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. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph,
See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh
took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand,
and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain
about his neck; 43 And 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.
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