Genesis 39

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.

Meanwhile, the descendants of Ishmael took Joseph down to Egypt. There Potiphar bought Joseph from them. Potiphar was an Egyptian who was one of the king’s officials and the captain of the king’s (palace guards/guards who protected the king).

2 And Jehovah was with Joseph. And he was a man who succeeds. And he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Because Yahweh helped Joseph, he was able to do his work very well, and lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

His master saw that Yahweh was helping Joseph and enabling him to be successful in everything that he did.

4 And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered to him. And he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Joseph’s master was pleased with him, so he appointed him to be his personal servant. Then he appointed him to be the one who would take care of everything in his household and all of his possessions.

5 And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field.

From the time Potiphar appointed Joseph to take care of everything in his household and all that he owned, Yahweh blessed the people who lived in Potiphar’s house because of Joseph. He also caused Potiphar’s crops to grow well.

6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he knew nothing that was with him, save the bread which he ate. And Joseph was comely, and well-favored.

Potiphar allowed Joseph to take care of everything that he owned. Potiphar needed to decide only about the food he ate. He was not concerned about anything else in his house. Joseph was well-built/muscular and handsome.

7 And it came to pass, after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, Lie with me.

Because of that, after a while, his master’s wife started to look fondly at Joseph. So one day she said to him, “Have sex [EUP] with me!”

8 But he refused, and said to his master's wife, Behold, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.

But he refused, saying to his master’s wife, “Listen! My master is not concerned about anything in this house. He has appointed me to take care of everything that he owns.

9 He is not greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

No one in this household has more authority than I do. The only thing that he has not allowed me to have is you, because you are his wife! So (how could I do this wicked thing [that you are asking me to do]?/I certainly could not do this wicked thing!) [RHQ] I would be sinning against God if I did that!”

10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not hearken to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

She kept on asking Joseph day after day to have sex [EUP] with her, but he refused. He would not even go near her.

11 And it came to pass, about this time, that he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there inside.

One day Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the other household servants were in the house.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me. And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got out.

Potiphar’s wife grabbed his cloak and said, “Have sex [EUP] with me!” Joseph ran out of the house, but his cloak was still in her hand!

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

When she saw that he had run outside leaving his cloak in her hand,

14 that she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, See, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.

she called the household servants. She said to them, “Look! This Hebrew man that my husband brought to us is (insulting/trying to do something disgraceful to) us! He came into my room and tried to (rape me/make me have sex [EUP] with him), but I screamed loudly.

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got out.

As soon as he heard me scream loudly, he left his loincloth with me and ran outside!”

16 And she laid up his garment by her until his master came home.

She kept the loincloth beside her until her husband, Joseph’s master, came home.

17 And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou have brought to us, came in to me to mock me.

Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave whom you brought here came into my room and tried to rape me!

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.

As soon as I screamed loudly, he ran outside, leaving me holding his loincloth!”

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me, that his wrath was kindled.

When Joseph’s master heard this story that his wife told him, saying “This is how your slave treated me,” he was very angry.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound. And he was there in the prison.

Joseph’s master took Joseph and put him in prison, the place where all the king’s prisoners were put, and Joseph stayed there.

21 But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

But Yahweh was kind to Joseph and helped him, and caused the (prison warden/man who was in charge of the prison) to be pleased with him.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. And whatever they did there, he was the doer of it.

So the prison warden put Joseph in charge of all those who were in the prison, and in charge of all the work that was done there.

23 The keeper of the prison did not look to anything that was under his hand, because Jehovah was with him, and that which he did, Jehovah made it prosper.

The warden was not concerned with anything that Joseph was taking care of, because Yahweh helped Joseph to do well everything that he did.