Genesis 39

¹Therefore Joseph was brought into Ægypt, and Putiphar an Eunuch of Pharao, Prince of his army, a man of Ægypt bought him, at the hand of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.

²And our Lord was with him, and he was a man that in all things did prosperously: and he dwelt in his master's house,

³who knew very well that our Lord was with him, and that all things which he did were directed by him in his hand.

⁴And Joseph found grace before his master, and ministered to him: by whom being made ruler over all his things, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered unto him:

⁵and our Lord blessed the house of the Ægyptian for Joseph's sake, and multiplied as well in houses, as in lands all his substance.

⁶Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful countenance, and comely favoured to behold.

⁷After many days therefore his Mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Sleep with me.

⁸Who in nowise assenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my master having delivered all things unto me, knoweth not what he hath in his own house:

⁹Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, beside thee, that art his wife: how therefore can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God?

¹⁰With these kind of words day by day both the woman was importune upon the young man, and he refused the adultery.

¹¹And it chanced on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and did some business without any man with him:

¹²and she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Sleep with me. Who leaving the cloak in her hand, fled, and went forth abroad.

¹³And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself to be contemned,

¹⁴she called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See he hath brought in an Hebrew to delude us: he came upon me for to lie with me; and when I had cried out,

¹⁵and he heard my voice, he left the cloak that I held, and fled forth.

¹⁶For an argument therefore of her credit she reserved the cloak, & shewed it to her husband returning home,

¹⁷and said: There came unto me the Hebrew servant, whom thou didst bring hither, for to delude me:

¹⁸and when he heard me cry, he left the cloak which I held, and fled forth.

¹⁹His master hearing these things, and giving over light credit to his wife's words, was very wrath:

²⁰and delivered Joseph into prison, where the king's prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up.

²¹And our Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him grace in the sight of the chief of the prison.

²²Who delivered in his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done, was under him.

²³Neither did himself know anything, having committed all things to him: for our Lord was with him, and directed all his works.