Genesis 41:1-21 ▼

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

2 and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass.

3 Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.

4 The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke.

5 Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.

6 Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them.

7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.

8 In the morning his spirit was troubled; so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my faults today.

10 Once Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard.

11 We dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own meaning.

12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each according to his dream.

13 As he interpreted to us, so it turned out; I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was hurriedly brought out of the dungeon. When he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.

15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile;

18 and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.

19 Then seven other cows came up after them, poor, very ugly, and thin. Never had I seen such ugly ones in all the land of Egypt.

20 The thin and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows,

21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had done so, for they were still as ugly as before. Then I awoke.