"For the famine[has been] in the landthesetwo years,and there are stillfiveyearsin whichtherewill be neitherplowingnorharvesting.
Theseare [the records of] the generationsof Jacob.Joseph,when seventeenyearsof age,was pasturingthe flockwith his brotherswhile he was [still] a youth,along with the sonsof Bilhahand the sonsof Zilpah,his father'swives.And Josephbroughtback a badreportabout them to their father.
"Then let them gatherallthe foodof thesegoodyearsthat are coming,and storeup the grainfor foodin the citiesunderPharaoh'sauthority,and let them guard[it].
Now Josephwas thirtyyearsoldwhen he stoodbeforePharaoh,kingof Egypt.And Josephwentout from the presenceof Pharaohand wentthroughallthe landof Egypt.
When the sevenyearsof plentywhichhad beenin the landof Egyptcameto an end,
and the sevenyearsof faminebeganto come,justas Josephhad said,then there was faminein allthe lands,but in allthe landof Egyptthere was bread.
When the faminewas [spread] overallthe faceof the earth,then Josephopenedallthe storehouses,and soldto the Egyptians;and the faminewas severein the landof Egypt.
When that yearwas ended,they cameto him the nextyearand saidto him, "We will not hidefrom my lordthat our moneyis allspent,and the cattleare my lord's.There is nothingleftfor my lordexceptour bodiesand our lands.
Then Josephsaidto the people,"Behold,I have todayboughtyou and your landfor Pharaoh;now,[here] is seedfor you, and you may sowthe land.
"You shall worksixdays,but on the seventhdayyou shall rest;[even] during plowingtimeand harvestyou shall rest.
Also the oxenand the donkeyswhich workthe groundwill eatsaltedfodder,whichhas been winnowedwith shoveland fork.
and the eldersof that cityshall bringthe heiferdownto a valleywith runningwater,whichhas not been plowedor sown,and shall breakthe heifer'snecktherein the valley.
"He will appointfor himself commandersof thousandsand of fifties,and [some] to dohis plowingand to reaphis harvestand to makehis weaponsof warand equipmentfor his chariots.
