Genesis 40

₁After some time a steward and a baker of Pharaoh of Egypt did something wrong. ₂Pharaoh was angry with these 2 officials. They were the leaders of the stewards and bakers. ₃Pharaoh put them in prison in the house of the chief of the guards, who had to guard Pharaoh. It was in the same place where Joseph was a prisoner.

₄The chief of the guards chose Joseph to serve food to the steward and the baker. They were in prison for some time. ₅One night the steward and the baker dreamed. Each one of their dreams meant something. ₆When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were worried. ₇He asked the officials: ‘Why do you look so worried?’

₈They said to him: ‘We both dreamed last night and there is no one who can tell us what our dreams mean.’

Joseph said to them: ‘Only God can say what dreams mean. Tell me what you have dreamed.’

₉The leader of the stewards told Joseph his dream. He said: ‘I dreamed that I saw a vine in front of me. ₁₀There were 3 branches on the vine. The vine grew and there were flowers and later bunches of ripe grapes. ₁₁I held Pharaoh's cup in my hand and I took the grapes and pressed them and poured the juice into Pharaoh's cup and I gave the cup to him.’

₁₂Joseph said to him: ‘I will tell you what your dream means: The 3 branches are 3 days. ₁₃After 3 days Pharaoh will think of you and he will give you back your work. You will pour Pharaoh's wine into his cup again and give it to him as you did before when you were his steward. ₁₄But you must remember me when things are going well for you. Please do something to help me. Tell Pharaoh about me so that he can get me out of this prison. ₁₅They took me away from the land of the Hebrews. I have not done anything wrong here or there, but they put me in prison.’

₁₆When the leader of the bakers heard that Joseph had told the steward that his dream meant something good for him, he said to Joseph: ‘I also had a dream. I dreamed that there were 3 baskets on my head. ₁₇In the top basket was freshly baked food for Pharaoh. But the birds ate the food from the basket while it was still on my head.’

₁₈Then Joseph said to him: ‘I will tell you what your dream means: The 3 baskets are 3 days. ₁₉After 3 days Pharaoh will think about you. He will take you out of prison and he will hang you from a tree. The birds will come and they will eat the meat from your body.’

₂₀After 3 days it was Pharaoh's birthday and he had a big feast for all his people. He then remembered the leaders of the stewards and bakers and he let them come out of prison. ₂₁He gave the leader of the wine stewards back his work and he could pour wine into Pharaoh's cup again and give it to him. ₂₂But he hanged the leader of the bakers as Joseph had told them. ₂₃But the leader of the stewards did not remember Joseph. He forgot about him.