Pharaoh’s Dreams
1When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
5He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”
14So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
17Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22“In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
25Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God41:38 Or of the gods?”
39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command; or in his second chariot and people shouted before him, “Make way41:43 Or Bow down!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50 to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget. and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52The second son he named Ephraim41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful. and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
53The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
56When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.
Yosef Kyerɛ Farao Dae Ase
1Mfe abien akyi no, Farao soo dae bi. Na ogyina Asubɔnten Nil ho. 2Ohuu wɔ dae no mu sɛ anantwi ason a wɔadodɔ srade, na wɔn ho tua wɔn ho fii asubɔnten no mu ba bɛwee sare a na ɛwɔ hɔ no. 3Anantwi akɛse ason no akyi no, anantwi ason foforo a wɔafonfɔn ayeyɛ nkanyankanya fii Asubɔnten Nil mu ba begyinaa anantwi a wɔadodɔ srade no ho wɔ asu no konkɔn so. 4Anantwi ason a wɔafonfɔn ayeyɛ nkanyankanya no memenee anantwi ason a wɔadodɔ srade no. Na Farao bɔɔ pitiri nyanee!
5Nna faa Farao bio ma ɔsoo dae a ɛto so abien. Ohuu wɔ dae no mu sɛ, ɔmo kasiaw ason a ɛwɔ ahoɔden na ɛyɛ fɛ asow wɔ ɔmo dua baako so. 6Akyiri no, kasiaw ason bi a ɛyɛ nkanyankanya a apuei mframa abɔ no ama atwintwam nso fifii. 7Ɔmo nkanyankanya no memenee ɔmo a ɛwɔ ahoɔden na ɛyɛ fɛ no. Farao nyanee, na ohuu sɛ sɛɛ na nea ohuu no nyinaa yɛ ɔdae.
8Ade kyee no, nʼadwene mu yɛɛ no basaa. Enti Farao soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ nkonyaayifo ne anyansafo a wɔwɔ Misraim asase so nyinaa baa ne fi. Farao kaa dae a ɔsoo no nyinaa kyerɛɛ wɔn, nanso wɔn mu biara antumi ankyerɛ ase.
9Ɛhɔ na Farao nsahyɛfo panyin no ka kyerɛɛ Farao se, “Nnɛ na wɔakae me me sintɔ. 10Mmere bi a atwa mu no, wo Farao bo fuw wʼasomfo yiye. Ɛnam so ma wode me ne wo brodotofo panyin kɔtoo afiase wɔ awɛmfo panyin fi. 11Yɛn baanu nyinaa sosoo adae anadwo koro no ara a na ɛsono sɛnea yɛn mu biara dae no si te. 12Saa bere no, na Hebrini aberantewa bi a na ɔyɛ awɛmfo panyin Potifar somfo ka yɛn ho wɔ afiase hɔ. Yɛkaa yɛn dae a yɛsosoo no kyerɛɛ no no, ɔkyerɛɛ yɛn mu biara dae ase pɛpɛɛpɛ. 13Na ne nkyerɛase a ɔmaa no baa mu saa pɛpɛɛpɛ. Mesan kodii me dibea, na wɔsɛn brodotofo panyin no nso.”
14Amono mu hɔ ara, Farao soma ma wokoyii Yosef fii afiase hɔ bae. Ofi afiase hɔ no, oyii nʼabogyesɛ, sesaa nʼatade, na ɔbaa Farao anim.
15Farao ka kyerɛɛ Yosef se, “Maso dae bi a obiara ntumi nkyerɛ ase. Nanso mate sɛ wo de, sɛ obi ka ne dae kyerɛ wo a, wutumi kyerɛ ase. Ɛno nti na masoma abɛfrɛ wo yi.”
16Yosef buaa Farao se, “Me ara merentumi mfi me tumi mu nkyerɛ dae no ase. Onyankopɔn na ɔbɛkyerɛ wo dae no ase.”
17Na Farao ka kyerɛɛ Yosef se, “Mʼadaeso no mu no, na migyina Asubɔnten Nil konkɔn so. 18Mihuu sɛ anantwi ason a wɔadodɔ srade, na wɔn ho tua wɔn ho fi asubɔnten no mu ba bɛnantew wura no mu, fii ase wee sare. 19Anantwi akɛse ason no akyi no, anantwi ason foforo a wɔafonfɔn ayeyɛ nkanyankanya nso puei; minhuu anantwi a wɔyɛ tan bi saa wɔ Misraim asase so da. 20Anantwi ason a wɔafonfɔn ayeyɛ nkanyankanya no memenee anantwi ason a wɔadodɔ srade na wɔn ho tua wɔn ho a wodii kan puei no. 21Nanso wɔmemenee wɔn nyinaa akyi no, hwee ankyerɛ sɛ wɔayɛ saa, na wɔn ho da so yɛ nkanyankanya, tantan no ara. Na mebɔɔ pitiri nyanee.
22“Mesan soo dae bio hui sɛ, ɔmo kasiaw ason a ɛyɛ fɛ na ɛwɔ ahoɔden sɛ asow wɔ ɔmo dua baako so. 23Eyinom akyi no, ɔmo kasiaw ason bi a apuei mframa abɔ no, ama akisa ayeyɛ nkanyankanya nso fifii. 24Ɔmo nkanyankanya no memenee ɔmo ason a ɛyɛ fɛ na ɛwɔ ahoɔden no. Mekaa me dae no nyinaa kyerɛɛ nkonyaayifo no, wɔn mu biara antumi ankyerɛ me ase.”
25Ɛnna Yosef ka kyerɛɛ Farao se, “Wo dae abien a wososoe no nyinaa nkyerɛase yɛ pɛ. Onyankopɔn nam dae no so reda biribi a ɔrebɛyɛ no adi akyerɛ wo. 26Anantwi ason a wɔadodɔ srade no ne ɔmo kasiaw ason a ɛyɛ fɛ, na ɛwɔ ahoɔden no ase kyerɛ mfe ason; ɛyɛ dae koro. 27Anantwi ason a wɔafonfɔn, na wɔayeyɛ nkanyankanya no yɛ mfe ason, na saa ara na ɔmo kasiaw ason a ayeyɛ nhweanhweaa a apuei mframa ama akisa no te: ɛyɛ ɔkɔm a ɛbɛba mfe ason.
28“Ɛyɛ sɛnea meka kyerɛɛ Ɔhene no: Onyankopɔn akyerɛ wo nea ɔrebɛyɛ. 29Mfe ason a edi kan no, aduan bebu wɔ Misraim asase so nyinaa, 30nanso akyiri no, ɔkɔm kɛse bi bɛba mfe ason. Na nnipa werɛ befi asetena pa a wonyaa no mfe ason a edi kan no mu no. Ɔkɔm bɛposa asase no. 31Esiane ɔkɔm a ebedi mmere pa a atwa mu no akyi no ano den a ɛbɛyɛ no nti, saa bere no wɔrenkae mmere pa no bio wɔ asase no so. 32Saa dae abien a wosoo no kyerɛ sɛnea ɔkɔm no ano bɛyɛ den afa. Ɛkyerɛ sɛ, nea ɛbɛyɛ biara, asɛm a maka akyerɛ wo no bɛba mu saa pɛpɛɛpɛ. Efisɛ Onyankopɔn na wasi gyinae pi saa. Na ɛrenkyɛre koraa ɛbɛba mu saa.
33“Enti wɔmma Ɔhene hwehwɛ onyansafo kɛse a ɔwɔ nhumu wɔ Misraim asase yi so, na ɔmfa ɔman yi mu kuadwuma ho asɛm nyinaa hyɛ ne nsa. 34Ma ɔhene Farao nyiyi nnipa, ntuatua amansin ahorow anum no ano. Na saa nnipa a wɔde wɔn betuatua amansin no ano no nyiyi nnɔbae a ɛbɛba mmere pa mfe ason no mu no nkyɛmu anum mu baako, mfa nsie. 35Ɛsɛ sɛ saa nnipa a wotuatua amansin no ano no boaboa nnuan a wobegyigye mmere pa mfe ason a nnuan bebu no, de gu asan so wɔ ɔhene Farao din mu. Wɔmfa saa nnuan no nhyehyɛ asan so wɔ nkurow akɛse mu. 36Nnuan yi na mfe ason a ɔkɔm bɛba wɔ Misraim asase so no, ɔmanfo no bedi. Saa nnuan yi na wɔde besie ama ɔman no. Sɛ anyɛ saa a, akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ, ɔkɔm bɛbɔ ɔman no.”
Farao Pagyaw Yosef
37Farao ne ne mpanyimfo no gyee asɛm a Yosef ka kyerɛɛ wɔn no nyinaa too mu. 38Enti Farao bisaa wɔn se, “So yebenya obi a ɔte sɛ ɔbarima yi, nea Onyankopɔn honhom ahyɛ no ma?”
39Na Farao dan nʼani ka kyerɛɛ Yosef se, “Onyankopɔn ayi saa dae yi ne ne nkyerɛase akyerɛ wo yi, obiara nni hɔ a ɔyɛ onyansafo a ɔwɔ nhumu wɔ Misraimman yi mu sɛ wo. 40Mede saa adwuma kɛse yi nyinaa hyɛ wo nsa. Asɛm biara a wobɛka afa saa adwuma yi ho no, obiara nni ho asɛm ka wɔ Misraim nyinaa. Mʼahengua a me Farao, mete so no nko ara na ɛma meyɛ ɔkɛse sen wo.”
41Enti Farao ka kyerɛɛ Yosef se, “Mede Misraim asase nyinaa ahyɛ wo nsa.” 42Na Farao worɔw ne nsɔwano kaa de hyɛɛ Yosef nsa. Ɔde sirikyi batakari papa bi hyɛɛ Yosef, de sika ntweaban yan no. 43Ɔmaa Yosef teaseɛnam tenaa mu sɛ nʼabediakyiri. Baabiara a Yosef bɛkɔ no, na nnipa di nʼanim teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Momma kwan!” Saa ɔkwan yi so na ɔhene Farao fa de Misraim asase nyinaa hyɛɛ Yosef nsa.
44Na Farao ka kyerɛɛ Yosef se, “Mene Farao, Misraimhene de, nanso obiara ntumi mfi wʼakyi nyɛ biribiara wɔ Misraimman yi mu baabiara, gye sɛ woama ho kwan ansa.” 45Farao maa Yosef ahennin se Safnat-Panea. Farao maa Yosef ɔbea nso waree. Na ababaa no din de Asnat a ɔyɛ ɔbosom On kɔmfo Potifera babea. Ɛnam eyi so maa Yosef nyaa tumi maa ne din hyetaa wɔ Misraim asase so nyinaa.
46Bere a Yosef kɔɔ ɔhene Farao agua ase no, na wadi mfirihyia aduasa. Farao maa Yosef kwan maa ɔbɔɔ aporɔw faa Misraim asase so nyinaa. 47Mfe ason a edi kan no mu no, aduan buu so wɔ Misraim asase so yiye. 48Saa mfe ason no mu no, Yosef boaboaa nnuan a ebuu so wɔ Misraimman mu no ano kɔkoraa wɔ nkuropɔn a ɛwowɔ Misraim no mu. Wɔde aduan biara a wonya fii kurow biara mu no bi siee wɔ hɔ. 49Mfe ason akyi no, na Yosef akora nnuan wɔ nnuankorabea hɔ, ama abu so ara kosii sɛ afei na obiara mmu ho nkontaa bio.
50Ansa na ɔkɔm kɛse no rebɛba no, na Yosef yere Asnat a ɔyɛ ɔbosom On kɔmfo Potifera babea no awo mmabarima baanu. 51Yosef too nʼabakan no din Manase, a nkyerɛase ne Onyankopɔn ama me werɛ afi mʼamanehunu ne mʼagya fi nyinaa. 52Yosef babarima a ɔto so abien no nso, wɔtoo no din Efraim, a nkyerɛase ne Onyankopɔn ama mʼase afɛe wɔ asase a mebaa so sɛ akoa no so.
53Mfe ason a aduan buu so wɔ Misraim asase so no twaa mu. 54Sɛnea Yosef hyɛɛ nkɔm no, ɔkɔm a ɛbɛba mfe ason a edi so no fii ase. Ɔkɔm kɛse sii nsase a na atwa Misraim ho ahyia no nyinaa so, nanso Misraim asase ankasa so de, na aduan abu so. 55Bere a ɔkɔm no sii denneennen wɔ Misraim asase so no, ɔmanfo no su frɛɛ Farao. Farao ka kyerɛɛ Misraimfo nyinaa se, “Monkɔ Yosef nkyɛn, na biribiara a ɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ monyɛ no, monyɛ.”
56Bere a ɔkɔm kɛse no trɛw faa ɔman no nyinaa mu no, Yosef buebuee ne nnuankorabea no nyinaa ano, tɔn aburow maa Misraimfo no, efisɛ na ɔkɔm no ano yɛ den yiye ma wɔn. 57Enti na aman a atwa Misraim ho ahyia no nyinaa kɔtɔ aduan wɔ Yosef nkyɛn wɔ Misraim, efisɛ na ɔkɔm a aba no ano yɛ den yiye.
