1. After two years had passed, the king of Egypt dreamt that he was standing by the River Nile,
2. when seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the river and began to feed on the grass.
3. Then seven other cows came up; they were thin and bony. They came and stood by the other cows on the river bank,
4. and the thin cows ate up the fat cows. Then the king woke up.
5. He fell asleep again and had another dream. Seven ears of corn, full and ripe, were growing on one stalk.
6. Then seven other ears of corn sprouted, thin and scorched by the desert wind,
7. and the thin ears of corn swallowed the full ones. The king woke up and realized that he had been dreaming.
8. In the morning he was worried, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. He told them his dreams, but no one could explain them to him.
9. Then the wine steward said to the king, “I must confess today that I have done wrong.
10. You were angry with the chief baker and me, and you put us in prison in the house of the captain of the guard.
11. One night each of us had a dream, and the dreams had different meanings.
12. A young Hebrew was there with us, a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us.
13. Things turned out just as he said: you restored me to my position, but you executed the baker.”
14. The king sent for Joseph, and he was immediately brought from the prison. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came into the king's presence.
15. The king said to him, “I have had a dream, and no one can explain it. I have been told that you can interpret dreams.”
16. Joseph answered, “I cannot, Your Majesty, but God will give a favourable interpretation.”