26. The seven healthy cows are seven years, and the seven healthy ears are seven years—the same in each dream.
27. The seven thin, bad cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind; they are seven years of famine.
28. Things are just as I told Pharaoh: God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29. Seven years of great abundance are now coming throughout the land of Egypt;
30. but seven years of famine will rise up after them, when all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. When the famine has exhausted the land,
31. no trace of the abundance will be found in the land because of the famine that follows it, for it will be very severe.
32. That Pharaoh had the same dream twice means that the matter has been confirmed by God and that God will soon bring it about.
33. “Therefore, let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34. Let Pharaoh act and appoint overseers for the land to organize it during the seven years of abundance.
35. They should collect all the food of these coming good years, gathering the grain under Pharaoh’s authority, for food in the cities, and they should guard it.
36. This food will serve as a reserve for the country against the seven years of famine that will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish in the famine.”
37. This advice pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38. “Could we find another like him,” Pharaoh asked his servants, “a man so endowed with the spirit of God?”
39. So Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you are.
40. You shall be in charge of my household, and all my people will obey your command. Only in respect to the throne will I outrank you.”
41. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Look, I put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”
42. With that, Pharaoh took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43. He then had him ride in his second chariot, and they shouted “Abrek!” before him.Thus was Joseph installed over the whole land of Egypt.
44. “I am Pharaoh,” he told Joseph, “but without your approval no one shall lift hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”