23. After them, seven other ears sprouted – withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.
24. The thin ears of corn swallowed up the seven good ears. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.’
25. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years; it is one and the same dream.
27. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterwards are seven years, and so are the seven worthless ears of corn 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.
29. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30. but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
31. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32. The 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.