23. After them, seven heads of grain — withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind — sprouted up.
24. The thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this to the magicians, but no one can tell me what it means.”
25. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.
26. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing.
27. The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless, scorched heads of grain are seven years of famine.
28. “It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt.
30. After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land.
31. The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe.
32. Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and He will carry it out soon.
33. “So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
34. Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
35. Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food.
36. The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine.”
37. The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38. Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him? ”