Thursday in Season after Pentecost

14Verse 14. So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh. 15Verse 15. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16Verse 16. “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.” 17Verse 17. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18Verse 18. when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. 19Verse 19. After them, seven other cows— sickly, ugly, and thin— came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt! 20Verse 20. Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first. 21Verse 21. When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke. 22Verse 22. In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk. 23Verse 23. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted— withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind. 24Verse 24. And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.” 25Verse 25. At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26Verse 26. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. 27Verse 27. Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind — they are seven years of famine. 28Verse 28. It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29Verse 29. Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30Verse 30. but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. 31Verse 31. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32Verse 32. Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly. 33Verse 33. Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34Verse 34. Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35Verse 35. Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. 36Verse 36. This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”

20Verse 20. Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save. 21Verse 21. Speak up and present your case— yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me. 22Verse 22. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23Verse 23. By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance. 24Verse 24. Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame. 25Verse 25. In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult.