20. Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his fields because the famine was so severe. The land became Pharaoh’s.
21. All over Egypt Joseph moved the people to the cities.
22. But he didn’t buy the priests’ land because the priests received an income from Pharaoh, and they lived on that income. That’s why they didn’t sell their land.
23. Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Plant crops in the land.
24. Every time you harvest, give one-fifth of the produce to Pharaoh. Four-fifths will be yours to use as seed for your fields and as food for your households.”
25. “You have saved our lives,” they said. “Please, sir, we are willing to be Pharaoh’s slaves.”