Genesis 39

1 Igitur Ioseph ductus est in Ægyptum, emitque eum Putiphar eunuchus Pharaonis, princeps exercitus, vir Ægyptius, de manu Ismaelitarum, a quibus perductus erat.

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.

2 Fuitque Dominus cum eo, et erat vir in cunctis prospere agens: habitavitque in domo domini sui,

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,

3 qui optime noverat Dominum esse cum eo, et omnia, quæ gerebat, ab eo dirigi in manu illius.

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.

4 Invenitque Ioseph gratiam coram domino suo, et ministrabat ei, a quo præpositus omnibus gubernabat creditam sibi domum, et universa quæ ei tradita fuerant:

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.

5 benedixitque Dominus domui Ægyptii propter Ioseph, et multiplicavit tam in ædibus quam in agris cunctam eius substantiam:

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.

6 nec quidquam aliud noverat, nisi panem quo vescebatur. Erat autem Ioseph pulchra facie, et decorus aspectu.

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

7 Post multos itaque dies iniecit domina sua oculos suos in Ioseph, et ait: Dormi mecum.

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

8 Qui nequaquam acquiescens operi nefario, dixit ad eam: Ecce dominus meus, omnibus mihi traditis, ignorat quid habeat in domo sua:

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.

9 nec quidquam est quod non in mea sit potestate, vel non tradiderit mihi, præter te, quæ uxor eius es: quo modo ergo possum hoc malum facere, et peccare in Deum meum?

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?”

10 Huiuscemodi verbis per singulos dies et mulier molesta erat adolescenti: et ille recusabat stuprum.

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

11 Accidit autem quadam die ut intraret Ioseph domum, et operis quippiam absque arbitris faceret:

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

12 et illa, apprehensa lacinia vestimenti eius, diceret: Dormi mecum. Qui relicto in manu eius pallio fugit, et egressus est foras.

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.

13 Cumque vidisset mulier vestem in manibus suis, et se esse contemptam,

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

14 vocavit ad se homines domus suæ, et ait ad eos: En introduxit virum Hebræum, ut illuderet nobis: ingressus est ad me, ut coiret mecum: cumque ego succlamassem,

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,

15 et audisset vocem meam, reliquit pallium quod tenebam, et fugit foras.

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

16 In argumentum ergo fidei retentum pallium ostendit marito revertenti domum,

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

17 et ait: Ingressus est ad me servus Hebræus quem adduxisti ut illuderet mihi:

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

18 cumque audisset me clamare, reliquit pallium quod tenebam, et fugit foras.

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

19 His auditis dominus, et nimium credulus verbis coniugis, iratus est valde:

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

20 tradiditque Ioseph in carcerem, ubi vincti regis custodiebantur, et erat ibi clausus.

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

21 Fuit autem Dominus cum Ioseph, et misertus illius dedit ei gratiam in conspectu principis carceris.

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

22 Qui tradidit in manu illius universos vinctos qui in custodia tenebantur: et quidquid fiebat, sub ipso erat.

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

23 Nec noverat aliquid, cunctis ei creditis: Dominus enim erat cum illo, et omnia opera eius dirigebat.

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.