Genesis 39

1 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.

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 the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master’s house,

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

3 Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and 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 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:

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 the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home, and in the fields.

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 Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold.

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 after many days his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and 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, 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:

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 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?

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 With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.

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 Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business without any, man with him:

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 catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went 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 when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded,

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

14 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,

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 he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got him out.

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

16 For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home:

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

17 And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse 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 when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out.

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

19 His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife’s words, was very angry.

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 cast Joseph into the prison, where the king’s prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up.

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 the Lord was with Joseph and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief 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 Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done was under him.

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 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.

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