Genesis 47:20-26

Contemporary English Version

²⁰ The famine became so severe that Joseph finally bought every piece of land in Egypt for the king ²¹ and made everyone the king's slaves,^{[a] 22} except the priests. The king gave the priests a regular food allowance, so they did not have to sell their land. ²³ Then Joseph said to the people, “You and your land now belong to the king. I'm giving you seed to plant, ²⁴ but one fifth of your crops must go to the king. You can keep the rest as seed or as food for your families.”

²⁵ “Sir, you have saved our lives!” they answered. “We are glad to be slaves of the king.” ²⁶ Then Joseph made a law that one fifth of the harvest would always belong to the king. Only the priests did not lose their land.