Genesis 39

1 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).

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, which had brought him down thither.

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

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

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

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

4 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.

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

5 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.

And it came to pass from the time that he made 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.

6 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.

And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught [that was] with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely, and well favoured.

7 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!”

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

8 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.

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

9 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!”

there is none 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?

10 She kept on asking Joseph day after day to have sex [EUP] with her, but he refused. He would not even go near her.

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

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

And it came to pass about this time, that he went into the house to do his work; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 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!

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

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

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

14 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:

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

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

19 When Joseph’s master heard this story that his wife told him, saying “This is how your slave treated me,” he was very angry.

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

20 Joseph’s master took Joseph and put him in prison, the place where all the king’s prisoners were put, and Joseph stayed there.

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.

21 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.

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

22 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.

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.

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

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.