1 After these things happened, two of the king’s officers displeased the king. These officers were the man who served wine to the king and the king’s baker.
2 The king became angry with his officer who served him wine and his baker.
3 So he put them in the prison of the captain of the guard. This was the same prison where Joseph was kept.
4 The captain of the guard put the two prisoners in Joseph’s care. They stayed in prison for some time.
5 One night both the king’s officer who served him wine and the baker had a dream. Each had his own dream with its own meaning.
6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw they were worried.
7 Joseph asked the king’s officers who were with him, “Why do you look so unhappy today?”
8 The two men answered, “We both had dreams last night. But no one can explain the meaning of them to us.”Joseph said to them, “God is the only One who can explain the meaning of dreams. So tell me your dreams.”
9 So the man who served wine to the king told Joseph his dream. He said, “I dreamed I saw a vine.
10 On the vine there were three branches. I watched the branches bud and blossom, and then the grapes ripened.
11 I was holding the king’s cup. So I took the grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I gave it to the king.”
12 Then Joseph said, “I will explain the dream to you. The three branches stand for three days.
13 Before the end of three days the king will free you. He will allow you to return to your work. You will serve the king his wine just as you did before.
14 But when you are free, remember me. Be kind to me. Tell the king about me so that I can get out of this prison.
15 I was taken by force from the land of the Hebrews. And I have done nothing here to deserve being put in prison.”
16 The baker saw that Joseph’s explanation of the dream was good. So he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream. I dreamed there were three bread baskets on my head.
17 In the top basket there were all kinds of baked food for the king. But the birds were eating this food out of the basket on my head.”
18 Joseph answered, “I will tell you what the dream means. The three baskets stand for three days.
19 Before the end of three days, the king will cut off your head! He will hang your body on a pole. And the birds will eat your flesh.”
20 Three days later it was the king’s birthday. So he gave a feast for all his officers. In front of his officers, he let the chief officer who served his wine and the chief baker out of prison.
21 The king gave his chief officer who served wine his old position. Once again he put the king’s cup of wine into the king’s hand.
22 But the king hanged the baker on a pole. Everything happened just as Joseph had said it would.
23 But the officer who served wine did not remember Joseph. He forgot all about him.