22. “In my second dream I saw seven good, full heads of grain growing on a single stalk.
23. Seven other heads of grain, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted behind them.
24. The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but no one could tell me what it meant.”
25. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh had the same dream twice. God has told Pharaoh what he’s going to do.
26. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. It’s all the same dream.
27. The seven thin, sickly cows that came up behind them are seven years. The seven empty heads of grain scorched by the east wind are also seven years. Seven years of famine are coming.
28. “It’s just as I said to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he’s going to do.
29. Seven years are coming when there will be plenty of food in Egypt.
30. After them will come seven years of famine. People will forget that there was plenty of food in Egypt, and the famine will ruin the land.
31. People won’t remember that there once was plenty of food in the land, because the coming famine will be so severe.
32. The reason Pharaoh has had a recurring dream is because the matter has been definitely decided by God, and he will do it very soon.
33. “Pharaoh should look for a wise and intelligent man and put him in charge of Egypt.
34. Make arrangements to appoint supervisors over the land to take a fifth of Egypt’s harvest during the seven good years.
35. Have them collect all the food during these good years and store up grain under Pharaoh’s control, to be kept for food in the cities.
36. This food will be a reserve supply for our country during the seven years of famine that will happen in Egypt. Then the land will not be ruined by the famine.”
37. Pharaoh and all his servants liked the idea.
38. So Pharaoh asked his servants, “Can we find anyone like this—a man who has God’s Spirit in him?”
39. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you.
40. You will be in charge of my palace, and all my people will do what you say. I will be more important than you, only because I’m Pharaoh.”