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 has been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners, an Egyptian man, buys him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites who have brought him there.

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

And YHWH is with Joseph, and he is a prosperous man, and he is in the house of his lord the Egyptian,

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

and his lord sees that YHWH is with him, and all that he is doing YHWH is causing 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 finds grace in his eyes and serves him, and he appoints him over his house, and all that he has he has given 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 comes to pass from the time that he has appointed him over his house, and over all that he has, that YHWH blesses the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake, and the blessing of YHWH is on all that he has, 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 leaves all that he has in the hand of Joseph, and he has not known anything that he has, except the bread which he is eating. And Joseph is of a handsome form, and of a handsome appearance.

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 comes to pass after these things, that his lord’s wife lifts up her eyes to Joseph and says, “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.

and he refuses and says to his lord’s wife, “Behold, my lord has not known what [is] with me in the house, and all that he has he has given 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!”

none is greater in this house than I, and he has not withheld from me anything, except you, because you [are] his wife; and how will I do this great evil? Then I have sinned 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 comes to pass at her speaking to Joseph day [by] day, that he has not listened to her, to lie near her, 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 comes to pass about this day, that he goes into the house to do his work, and there is none of the men of the house there in the house,

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 catches him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me”; and he leaves his garment in her hand, and flees, and goes outside.

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

And it comes to pass, when she sees that he has left his garment in her hand, and flees outside,

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 calls for the men of her house, and speaks to them, saying, “See, he has brought a man to us, a Hebrew, to play with us; he has come in to me, to lie with me, and I call with a loud voice,

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

and it comes to pass, when he hears that I have lifted up my voice and call, that he leaves his garment near me, and flees, and goes outside.”

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

And she places his garment near her, until the coming in of his lord to his house.

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 speaks to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you have brought to us, has come in to me to play with me;

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

and it comes to pass, when I lift my voice and call, that he leaves his garment near me, and flees outside.”

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 comes to pass, when his lord hears the words of his wife, which she has spoken to him, saying, “According to these things has your servant done to me,” that his anger burns;

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 lord takes him, and puts him to the round-house, a place where the king’s prisoners [are] bound; and he is there in the round-house.

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.

And YHWH is with Joseph, and stretches out kindness to him, and puts his grace in the eyes of the chief of the round-house;

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 chief of the round-house gives into the hand of Joseph all the prisoners who [are] in the round-house, and of all that they are doing there, he has been doer;

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 chief of the round-house does not see anything under his hand, because YHWH [is] with him, and that which he is doing YHWH is causing to prosper.