< Genesis 39 >
1 Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.
And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.
2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master’s house,
3 His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand.
Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him:
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. The LORD’s blessing was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home, and in the fields.
6 He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He did not concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.
Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold.
7 After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
And after many days his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie 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, in no wise consenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house:
9 No one is greater in this house than I am, and he has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife: how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God?
10 As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he did not listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.
11 About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business without any, man with him:
12 She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.
13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded,
14 she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See, he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with me: and when I cried out,
15 When he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got him out.
16 She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home:
17 She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me.
18 and as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment by me, and ran outside.”
And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out.
19 When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his wrath was kindled.
His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife’s words, was very angry.
20 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 custody.
And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king’s prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
But the Lord was with Joseph and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison:
22 The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it.
Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done was under him.
23 The keeper of the prison did not look after anything that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and that which he did, the LORD made it prosper.
Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper.