1Some time later the king of Egypt's wine steward and his chief baker offended the king. 2He was angry with these two officials 3and put them in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same place where Joseph was being kept. 4They spent a long time in prison, and the captain assigned Joseph as their servant.

5One night there in prison the wine steward and the chief baker each had a dream, and the dreams had different meanings. 6When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were upset. 7He asked them, “Why do you look so worried today?”

8They answered, “Each of us had a dream, and there is no one here to explain what the dreams mean.”

“It is God who gives the ability to interpret dreams,” Joseph said. “Tell me your dreams.”

9So the wine steward said, “In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me 10with three branches on it. As soon as the leaves came out, the blossoms appeared, and the grapes ripened. 11I was holding the king's cup; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into the cup and gave it to him.”

12Joseph said, “This is what it means: the three branches are three days. 13In three days the king will release you, pardon you, and restore you to your position. You will give him his cup as you did before when you were his wine steward. 14But please remember me when everything is going well for you, and please be kind enough to mention me to the king and help me get out of this prison. 15After all, I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here in Egypt I didn't do anything to deserve being put in prison.”

16When the chief baker saw that the interpretation of the wine steward's dream was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream too; I was carrying three breadbaskets on my head. 17In the top basket there were all kinds of baked goods for the king, and the birds were eating them.”

18Joseph answered, “This is what it means: the three baskets are three days. 19In three days the king will release you—and have your head cut off! Then he will hang your body on a pole, and the birds will eat your flesh.”

20On his birthday three days later the king gave a banquet for all his officials; he released his wine steward and his chief baker and brought them before his officials. 21He restored the wine steward to his former position, 22but he executed the chief baker. It all happened just as Joseph had said. 23But the wine steward never gave Joseph another thought—he forgot all about 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