The king heard all that Joseph said, and was pleased. He said to his servants. "Can we find another man as full of the spirit of God?" And to Joseph he said. "Is there any man wiser than you are? God has showed you all these things. You shall be ruler of Egypt. and all shall acknowledge you. No one shall be above you except me, who am the king."
Removing his ring, the king put it on Joseph's finger as a sign of authority, that all might obey him. The king also gave him one of his chariots. Wherever Joseph went, a soldier walked before his chariot. crying aloud, "Bow the knee. because Joseph, who is made the governor of Egypt, is coming!"
Joseph preferred to go to prison rather than offend God. Even in this life God rewarded him with wealth and honor.
Soon the seven years of plenty arrived. All over Egypt there were rich harvests. The earth yielded its products abundantly. Every one had more than he needed.
Joseph commanded the people to store away as much grain as they could. He built great storehouses, where he gathered in the grain that was as plentiful as the sands of the sea. At the end of the seven years of plenty, Joseph had filled very many storehouses to overflowing.
The years of plenty passed, and the seven years of famine that Joseph had foretold began. Such a famine had never been seen before. It was only in Egypt that there was food.
When the famine began, and the Egyptians had eaten up all their grain, the people cried out to the king to feed them, or they would all die of hunger. The king said to them, "Go to Joseph. Do whatever he commands."
Joseph ordered the great storehouses to be opened one by one. Grain was sold to the people. No one died of hunger in Egypt. because Joseph had wisely stored up grain during the plentiful years.
Soon other lands heard about the food in Egypt. From far and near people came to buy grain of Joseph.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines