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So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.

When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke.

Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind-they are seven years of famine.

The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe.

So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?"

He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.

So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.

"Look," he added, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."

So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan.

Now Joseph was the ruler of the land, who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

"Not so, my lord," they replied. "Your servants have come to buy food.

Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"

So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,

Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die." And to this they consented.

But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.'"

So when Jacob's sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy a little more food for us."

And Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die-neither we, nor you, nor our children.

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man-a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

Take double the money with you so that you may return the money that was put back into in the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.