New International Reader's Version

Genesis 41:2-15 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

2. Seven cows came up out of the river. They looked healthy and fat. They were eating some of the tall grass that was growing along the river.

3. After them, seven other cows came up out of the Nile. They looked ugly and skinny. They were standing beside the other cows on the riverbank.

4. The ugly, skinny cows ate up the seven cows that looked healthy and fat. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5. He fell asleep again and had a second dream. In that dream, seven heads of grain were growing on one stem. They were healthy and good.

6. After them, seven other heads of grain came up. They were thin and dried up by the east wind.

7. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It had been a dream.

8. In the morning he was worried. So he sent for all of the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams. But no one could tell him what they meant.

9. Then the chief wine taster spoke up. He said to Pharaoh, "Now I remember that I've done something wrong.

10. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants. He put me and the chief baker in prison. We were in the house of the captain of the palace guard.

11. Each of us had a dream the same night. Each dream had its own meaning.

12. "A young Hebrew servant was there with us. He was a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams. And he explained them to us. He told each of us the meaning of our dreams.

13. Things turned out exactly as he said they would. I was given back my position. The other man had a pole stuck through his body."

14. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph. He was quickly brought out of the prison. Joseph shaved himself and changed his clothes. Then he came to Pharaoh.

15. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream. No one can tell me what it means. But I've heard that when you hear a dream you can explain it."