Genesis 39

1 Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

Meanwhile, Joseph was led into Egypt. And Putiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, a leader of the army, an Egyptian man, purchased him from the hand of the Ishmaelites, by whom he was brought.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

And the Lord was with him, and he was a man who prospered in everything that he did. And he lived in the house of his lord,

3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did,

who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and that all the things that were done by him were directed by his hand.

4 Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.

And Joseph found favor in the sight of his lord, and he ministered to him. And, having been placed in charge of everything by him, he governed the house that was entrusted to him and all the things that had been delivered to him.

5 From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s household on account of him. The LORD’s blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field.

And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian, because of Joseph, and he multiplied all his substance, as much in the buildings, as in the fields.

6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

Neither did he know anything other than the bread that he ate. Now Joseph was beautiful in form, and stately in appearance.

7 and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.”

And so, after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Sleep with me.”

8 But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care.

And without consenting at all to the wicked act, he said to her: “Behold, my lord has delivered all things to me, and he does not know what he has in his own house.

9 No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?”

Neither is there anything which is not in my power, or that he has not delivered to me, except you, for you are his wife. How then can I do this evil act and sin against my God?”

10 Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her.

With such words as these, throughout each day, the woman was pestering the young man, and he was refusing the adultery.

11 One day, however, Joseph went into the house to attend to his work, and not a single household servant was inside.

Then it happened, on a certain day, that Joseph entered the house, and he was doing something, without any witnesses.

12 She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.

And she, grasping the hem of his garment, said, “Sleep with me.” But he, leaving behind the cloak in her hand, fled and went outside.

13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

And when the woman saw the garment in her hands and herself being treated with disrespect,

14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, but I screamed as loud as I could.

she called to herself the men of her house, and she said to them: “Lo, he has brought in a Hebrew man to abuse us. He entered toward me, in order to join with me; and when I had shouted out,

15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

and he had heard my voice, he left behind the cloak that I held, and he fled outside.”

16 So Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s cloak beside her until his master came home.

As a proof, therefore, of her fidelity, she retained the cloak, and she showed it to her husband, when he returned home.

17 Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me,

And she said: “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought in to me, approached me to abuse me.

18 but when I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

And when he had heard me cry out, he left behind the cloak that I held, and he fled outside.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” he burned with anger.

His lord, upon hearing these things, and having excessive trust in the words of his mate, was very angry.

20 So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison,

And he delivered Joseph into prison, where the prisoners of the king were kept, and he was enclosed in that place.

21 the LORD was with him and extended kindness to him, granting him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

But the Lord was with Joseph, and, having mercy on him, he gave him favor in the sight of the leader of the prison,

22 And the warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care, so that he was responsible for all that was done in the prison.

who delivered into his hand all the prisoners who were held in custody. And whatever was done, was under him.

23 The warden did not concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Neither did he himself know anything, having entrusted all things to him. For the Lord was with him, and he directed everything that he did.