Genesis

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

1Joseph was taken down to Egypt. A man named Potiphar bought him from the Ishmaelites who brought him there. Potiphar was an Egyptian. He worked for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, as head of the king's guards.

NoteA Hebrew is someone from Joseph's family and people, the family of Abraham. The Ishmaelites were traders who bought Joseph from his brothers and carried him to Egypt.

2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

2The LORD was with Joseph. Everything went well for him. He lived and worked in his master's house.

3And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

3Potiphar could see that the LORD was with Joseph. Everything Joseph did turned out well.

4And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

4Potiphar liked Joseph and chose him as his helper. He put Joseph in charge of his house. He trusted Joseph with everything he owned.

5And it came to pass from the time that he had 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.

5From that day on, the LORD blessed Potiphar's house because of Joseph. Good things came to all Potiphar owned, both in his house and in his fields.

6And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

6So Potiphar let Joseph take care of everything. He did not worry about any of it. He only thought about the food he ate. Joseph was strong and good-looking.

7And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

7After a while, Potiphar's wife started looking at Joseph. She said to him, "Come to bed with me."

8But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

8But Joseph said no. He told her, "Look, my master does not even check on his house. He has trusted me with everything he owns.

NoteThe old wording says Potiphar "wotteth not." That means he did not keep track of things himself. He left it all to Joseph.

9There 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?

9No one in this house is more important than I am. He has kept nothing back from me but you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a bad thing? It would be a sin against God."

10And 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.

10She asked Joseph again and again, day after day. He would not listen. He would not lie beside her or even be near her.

11And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

11One day Joseph went into the house to do his work. None of the other servants were inside.

12And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

12She grabbed his coat and said, "Come to bed with me." Joseph left the coat in her hand. He ran out of the house.

13And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

13She saw that his coat was in her hand. She saw that he had run outside.

14That 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:

14So she called the servants of the house. She said, "Look! My husband brought a Hebrew man here to shame us. He came in to sleep with me, and I screamed as loud as I could.

NoteThe old wording says "to mock us." Here it means to treat us badly and shame us, not to make a joke.

15And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

15"When he heard me scream, he left his coat with me. Then he ran out of the house."

16And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.

16She kept Joseph's coat beside her until her husband came home.

17And 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:

17Then she told him the same story. She said, "That Hebrew servant you brought here came in to shame me.

18And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

18"But when I screamed for help, he left his coat with me and ran outside."

19And 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.

19Potiphar listened to his wife say, "This is what your servant did to me." He became very angry.

20And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

20So Potiphar took Joseph and put him in prison. It was the place where the king's prisoners were kept. Joseph stayed there in the prison.

21But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

21But the LORD was with Joseph and was kind to him. The man in charge of the prison came to like Joseph.

NoteThe old wording says Joseph "found favour" with the keeper of the prison. That means the man trusted him and treated him well.

22And 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.

22That man put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. Joseph took care of everything that was done there.

23The 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.

23The man in charge did not check on anything Joseph did. That was because the LORD was with Joseph. The LORD made everything Joseph did turn out well.