Study Desk

Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's ^[x]dreams are one and the same; ^(t)God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the ^[y]dreams are one and the same.

The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind ^(u)will be seven years of famine.

^[z]It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: ^(v)God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do.

Behold, ^(w)seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt;

and after them ^(x)seven years of famine will ^[aa]come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ^[ab]ravage the land.

So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe.

Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that ^(y)the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.

Now let Pharaoh look for a man ^(z)discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers ^[ac]in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance.

Then let them ^(aa)gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it.

Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine."