Genesis 39

1 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.

Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar the Egyptian, a captain of high position in Pharaoh's house, got him for a price from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

2 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,

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he did well; and he was living in the house of his master the Egyptian.

3 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.

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, making everything he did go well.

4 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.

And having a high opinion of Joseph as his servant, he made him the overseer of his house and gave him control over all he had.

5 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.

And from the time when he made him overseer and gave him control of all his property, the blessing of the Lord was with the Egyptian, because of Joseph; the blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and in the field.

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

And he gave Joseph control of all his property, keeping no account of anything, but only the food which was put before him. Now Joseph was very beautiful in form and face.

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

And after a time, his master's wife, looking on Joseph with desire, said to him, Be my lover.

8 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.

But he would not, and said to her, You see that my master keeps no account of what I do in his house, and has put all his property in my control;

9 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?”

So that no one has more authority in this house than I have; he has kept nothing back from me but you, because you are his wife; how then may I do this great wrong, sinning against God?

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

And day after day she went on requesting Joseph to come to her and be her lover, but he would not give ear to her.

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

Now one day he went into the house to do his work; and not one of the men of the house was inside.

12 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.

And pulling at his coat, she said, Come to my bed; but slipping out of his coat, he went running away.

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

And when she saw that he had got away, letting her keep his coat,

14 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,

She sent for the men of her house and said to them, See, he has let a Hebrew come here and make sport of us; he came to my bed, and I gave a loud cry;

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

And hearing it he went running out without his coat.

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

And she kept his coat by her, till his master came back.

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

Then she gave him the same story, saying, The Hebrew servant whom you have taken into our house came in to make sport of me;

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

And when I gave a loud cry he went running out without his coat.

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

And hearing his wife's account of what his servant had done, he became very angry.

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

And Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, in the place where the king's prisoners were kept in chains, and he was there in the prison-house.

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

But the Lord was with Joseph, and was good to him, and made the keeper of the prison his friend.

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

And the keeper of the prison put all the prisoners under Joseph's control, and he was responsible for whatever was done there.

23 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.

And the keeper of the prison gave no attention to anything which was under his care, because the Lord was with him; and the Lord made everything he did go well.