NLT One Year Bible - Flipbook - Page 76
J A N U A R Y
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of grain appeared, but these were
blighted, shriveled, and withered by the
east wind. 24And the shriveled heads
swallowed the seven healthy heads. I
told these dreams to the magicians,
but no one could tell me what they
mean.”
25 Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing.
God is telling Pharaoh in advance what
he is about to do. 26The seven healthy
cows and the seven healthy heads of
grain both represent seven years of
prosperity. 27 The seven thin, scrawny
cows that came up later and the seven
thin heads of grain, withered by the east
wind, represent seven years of famine.
28“This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.
29 The next seven years will be a period of
great prosperity throughout the land
of Egypt. 30But afterward there will be
seven years of famine so great that all the
prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt.
Famine will destroy the land. 31This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 32As
for having two similar dreams, it means
that these events have been decreed by
God, and he will soon make them happen.
33“Therefore, Pharaoh should find an
intelligent and wise man and put him in
charge of the entire land of Egypt.
34Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect
one-fifth of all the crops during the
seven good years. 35Have them gather
all the food produced in the good years
that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and
guard it so there will be food in the cities. 36That way there will be enough to
eat when the seven years of famine
come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise
this famine will destroy the land.”
37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38So
Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we
find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”
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39 Then
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since
God has revealed the meaning of the
dreams to you, clearly no one else is as
intelligent or wise as you are. 40You will
be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank
higher than yours.”
41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put
you in charge ofthe entire land ofEgypt.”
42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring
from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s
finger. He dressed him in fine linen
clothing and hung a gold chain around
his neck. 43 Then he had Joseph ride in
the chariot reserved for his second-incommand. And wherever Joseph went,
the command was shouted, “Kneel
down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge
ofall Egypt. 44And Pharaoh said to him, “I
am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or
foot in the entire land of Egypt without
your approval.”
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new
Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah.*
He also gave him a wife, whose name
was Asenath. She was the daughter of
Potiphera, the priest of On.* So Joseph
took charge of the entire land of Egypt.
46He was thirty years old when he began
serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king
of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire
land of Egypt.
47As predicted, for seven years the land
produced bumper crops. 48During those
years, Joseph gathered all the crops
grown in Egypt and stored the grain from
the surrounding fields in the cities. 49He
piled up huge amounts of grain like sand
on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much
to measure.
50During this time, before the first
of the famine years, two sons were born
to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the
daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.
51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh,* for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my
father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his
second son Ephraim,* for he said, “God
