Genesis 39

1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither.

Joseph had been taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelites, who had sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officers, the commander of the royal guard.

2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful. He lived in his Egyptian master's house.

3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

His master noticed that the Lord was with him and made him successful in everything he did.

4 And Joseph found favour in his sight, and he ministered unto him. And he appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Potiphar appreciated Joseph and his service, and put him in charge of his household and made him responsible for everything he owned.

5 And it came to pass from the time that he appointed him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field.

From the time he put Joseph in charge and trusted him with all he had, the Lord blessed Potiphar's household because of Joseph. The Lord blessed everything he had, whether in his house or in his fields.

6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon.

So Potiphar left Joseph to care for everything he owned. He didn't bother with anything except to decide what food he was going to eat. Now Joseph was handsome, having a good physique,

7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.'

so some time later he caught the eye of his master's wife. She propositioned him, saying, “Come here! Sleep with me!”

8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife: 'Behold, my master, having me, knoweth not what is in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand;

But he turned her down, telling his master's wife, “Look, my master trusts me so much he doesn't even bother to find out how his household is running. He's put me in charge of everything he owns—

9 he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?'

no one in this house has more authority than me! He hasn't held back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such an evil thing as this, and sin against God?”

10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Day after day she persisted in asking him, but he refused to sleep with her and tried to avoid her.

11 And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there within,

But one day he went into the house to do his work and none of the other servants were there.

12 that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

She grabbed him by his clothing, and demanded, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his clothing in her hand, he ran out of the house.

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

Seeing that he'd left his clothing in her hand, and had ran out of the house,

14 that she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto them, saying: 'See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.

she shouted out to her servants, “Look at this! He brought this Hebrew slave here to dishonor us! This man came to try and rape me, but I screamed at the top of my voice.

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.'

When he heard me scream for help, he left his clothing beside me and ran outside.”

16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.

She kept his clothing with her until her husband came home.

17 And she spoke unto him according to these words, saying: 'The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me.

Then she told him her story. It went like this: “That Hebrew slave you brought here tried to come and dishonor me.

18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.'

But as soon as I screamed and called for help, he left his clothing beside me and ran outside.”

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke unto him, saying: 'After this manner did thy servant to me'; that his wrath was kindled.

When Potiphar heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” he became angry.

20 And 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 the prison.

He took Joseph and put him in the prison where the king's prisoners were kept, and there he stayed.

21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

But the Lord was with Joseph, showing him trustworthy love, and made the chief jailer pleased with him.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

So the chief jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners there and gave him the responsibility for running the prison.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

The chief jailer didn't bother with anything for Joseph took care of it all for the Lord was with him and made him successful.