Genesis 41 good news bible

Here is Genesis 41 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Genesis 41

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams

1 Some time later, the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh, who had been imprisoned with Joseph, remembered Joseph. 2 He said to Pharaoh, "I had a dream, but there is no one to interpret it." Then he told Pharaoh the whole dream. 3 Pharaoh said to the cupbearer, "This is what I have dreamed. I was standing by the river, 4 and I saw seven fat, healthy cows coming up out of the river and eating the grass. 5 After them, seven other cows came up, scrawny and thin, and they ate the fat cows. 6 Then I saw them in my dream, and I thought they were eating the grass. 7 I told this to the cupbearer, but he couldn't interpret it for me." 8 The cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I remember my dream, but I don't know what it means."

9 Pharaoh said to the cupbearer, "I had another dream, and it was strange. I was standing by the river, 10 and I saw seven ears of grain, plump and healthy, growing on one stalk. 11 Then seven other ears of grain, thin and scorched, sprouted up and devoured the seven plump ears. 12 I told this to the cupbearer, but he couldn't interpret it for me either." 13 Pharaoh said to the cupbearer, "I remember my dream, but I don't know what it means. So if you can't interpret it, I won't punish you. Just tell me what you think it might mean."

14 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are the same. God has shown Pharaoh what he is going to do. 15 The seven fat cows represent seven years, and the seven plump ears of grain represent seven years. 16 The seven thin, scrawny cows and the seven thin, scorched ears of grain represent seven years of famine. 17 This is what it means: the seven years of plenty will come first, 18 and then the seven years of famine will come. And the famine will be so bad that people will forget what it was like to eat during the seven years of plenty. 19 The dream is from God, and God has shown Pharaoh what he is going to do."

20 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You are a wise man. God has shown you what he is going to do. 21 I will put you in charge of my palace, and you will be in charge of all my affairs. 22 Only with your permission will anyone else be in charge of anything in my palace. 23 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby give you the authority to act as my representative. Only with your permission will anyone else be in charge of anything in my palace."

24 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You are a wise man. You have shown me what my dreams mean. 25 You will be in charge of my palace, and I will put you in charge of all my affairs. 26 Only with your permission will anyone else be in charge of anything in my palace. 27 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, and he gave him a wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, a priest of On. 28 Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt.

29 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby give you the authority to act as my representative. Only with your permission will anyone else be in charge of anything in my palace." 30 Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 31 He stopped at the city of Rameses, where he built a large storehouse to store grain. 32 Joseph stored up grain from the people of Egypt, who were very happy to give him their grain, because they were relieved that the famine was coming to an end.

33 Joseph stored up grain in great quantities, like the sand on the seashore, until he had stored up all the grain that was needed for the people of Egypt. 34 Joseph stopped storing grain when he had stored up all the grain that was needed for the people of Egypt, because the seven years of plenty had come to an end. 35 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "You are a wise man. You have shown me what my dreams mean. 36 You will be in charge of my palace, and I will put you in charge of all my affairs. 37 Only with your permission will anyone else be in charge of anything in my palace."

38 Pharaoh gave Joseph the authority to act as his representative, and Joseph was in charge of all Pharaoh's affairs. 39 Joseph was thirty years old when he became Pharaoh's representative, and he served Pharaoh for the rest of his life. 40 Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt, and he stopped at the city of Rameses, where he built a large storehouse to store grain.