Genesis 39:1

When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

Genesis 39:2

The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:3

Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.

Genesis 39:4

This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned.

Genesis 39:5

From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master's household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.

Genesis 39:6

So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn't worry about a thing-- except what kind of food to eat!Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,

Genesis 39:7

and Potiphar's wife soon began to look at him lustfully. "Come and sleep with me," she demanded.

Genesis 39:8

But Joseph refused. "Look," he told her, "my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.

Genesis 39:9

No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God."

Genesis 39:10

She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.

Genesis 39:11

One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work.

Genesis 39:12

She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, "Come on, sleep with me!" Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Genesis 39:13

When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled,

Genesis 39:14

she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. "Look!" she said. "My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed.

Genesis 39:15

When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me."

Genesis 39:16

She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home.

Genesis 39:17

Then she told him her story. "That Hebrew slave you've brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me," she said.

Genesis 39:18

"But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!"

Genesis 39:19

Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife's story about how Joseph had treated her.

Genesis 39:20

So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king's prisoners were held, and there he remained.

Genesis 39:21

But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.

Genesis 39:22

Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison.

Genesis 39:23

The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.