Genesis 39

1 Now Ioseph was brought downe into Egypt: and Potiphar an Eunuche of Pharaohs (and his chiefe stewarde an Egyptian) bought him at the hande of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him thither.

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 Ioseph, and he was a man that prospered and 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 sawe that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that hee did to prosper in his hande.

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

4 So Ioseph founde fauour in his sight, and serued him: and he made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had in 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 from that time that he had made him ruler ouer his house and ouer all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Iosephs sake: and the blessing of the Lord was vpon all that he had in the house, and in the fielde.

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 Therefore he left all that he had in Iosephs hand, and tooke accompt of nothing, that was with him, saue onely of the bread, which he did eate. And Ioseph was a faire person, and well fauoured.

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 Nowe therefore after these thinges, his masters wife cast her eyes vpon Ioseph, and saide, Lye 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 masters wife, Beholde, my master knoweth not what he hath in the house with me, but hath committed all that he hath to mine hande.

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 There is no man greater in this house then I: neither hath he kept any thing from me, but only thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickednes and so sinne 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 albeit she spake to Ioseph day by day, yet he hearkened not vnto her, to lye with her, or to be in her company.

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 Then on a certaine day Ioseph entred into the house, to doe his businesse: and there was no man of the houshold in the house:

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

12 Therefore she caught him by his garmet, saying, Sleepe with me: but he left his garment in her hand and fled, and got him 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 Nowe when she sawe that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled out,

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

14 She called vnto the men of her house, and tolde them, saying, Beholde, he hath brought in an Ebrewe vnto vs to mocke vs: who came in to me for to haue slept with me: but I cryed with a loude voyce.

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 when he heard that I lift vp my voice and cryed, he left his garment with me, and fled away, and got him out.

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

16 So she layde vp his garment by her, vntill her lord came home.

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

17 Then she tolde him according to these words, saying, The Ebrew seruat, which thou hast brought vnto vs, came in to me, to mocke me.

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

18 But assoone as I lift vp my voyce and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out.

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

19 Then when his master heard the wordes of his wife, which she tolde him, saying, After this maner did thy seruant to me, his anger 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 Iosephs master tooke him and put him in prison, in the place, where the kings prisoners lay bounde: and there he was in 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 the Lord was with Ioseph, and shewed him mercie, and got him fauour in the sight of the master 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 Iosephs hande all the prisoners that were in the prison, and whatsoeuer they did there, that did he.

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 And the keeper of the prison looked vnto nothing that was vnder his hande, seeing that the Lord was with him: for whatsoeuer he did, the Lord made it 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.