24. And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. Now I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could tell me what it meant.
25. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, The [two] dreams are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
26. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears [of grain] are seven years; the [two] dreams are one [in their meaning].
27. And the seven thin and ill favored cows that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears [of grain], blighted and shriveled by the east wind; they are seven years of hunger and famine.
28. This is the message just as I have told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29. Take note! Seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt are coming.
30. Then there will come seven years of hunger and famine, and [there will be so much want that] all the great abundance of the previous years will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and hunger (destitution, starvation) will exhaust (consume, finish) the land.
31. And the plenty will become quite unknown in the land because of that following famine, for it will be very woefully severe.
32. That the dream was sent twice to Pharaoh and in two forms indicates that this thing which God will very soon bring to pass is fully prepared and established by God.
33. So now let Pharaoh seek out and provide a man discreet, understanding, proficient, and wise and set him over the land of Egypt [as governor].
34. Let Pharaoh do this; then let him select and appoint officers over the land, and take one-fifth [of the produce] of the [whole] land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years [year by year].
35. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the direction and authority of Pharaoh, and let them retain food [in fortified granaries] in the cities.
36. And that food shall be put in store for the country against the seven years of hunger and famine that are to come upon the land of Egypt, so that the land may not be ruined and cut off by the famine.
37. And the plan seemed good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
38. And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find this man's equal, a man in whom is the spirit of God?