1And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them: and they continued a season in ward. 5And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison. 6And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad. 7And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in ward in his master’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sad to-day? 8And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.

9And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10and in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and its blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11and Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. 12And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; 13within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee unto thine office: and thou shalt give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14But have me in thy remembrance when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head: 17and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days; 19within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 20And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand: 22but he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

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Genesis 40

1After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.

2And Pharao being angry with them (now the one was chief butler and the other chief baker),

3He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in which Joseph also was prisoner,

4But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.

5And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the interpretation agreeing to themselves.

6And when Joseph was come in to them in the morning, and saw them sad,

7He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than usual?

8They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed.

9The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,

10On which were three branches, which by little and little sent out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes.

11And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.

12Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The three branches are yet three days:

13After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore thee to thy former place. And thou shalt present him the cup according to thy office, as before thou wast wont to do.

14Only remember me, when it shall be well with thee: and do me this kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison.

15For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here without any fault was cast into the dungeon.

16The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream, said: I also dreamed a dream, that I had three baskets of meal upon my head;

17And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.

18Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream. The three baskets are yet three days:

19After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee on a cross; and the birds shall tear thy flesh.

20The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief butler, and the chief baker.

21And he restored the one to his place to present him the cup:

22The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn.

23But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his interpreter.

An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.

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Genesis 40

Genesis 40