Page:The Holy Bible faithfvlly translated into English ovt of the authentical Latin, diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greek, & other Editions in diuers languages.pdf/131

 

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CHAP. XXXIX.

 

Ioseph being in great credite with his Master, hath the whole charge of his house. 7. Contemning his Mystris solicitation to incontinencie, 13. is falsly accused by her to his Master, 20. and cast into prison, 21. Where againe he getteth credite, and hath the charge of al the prisoners.

 

THERFORE Ioseph was brought into Ægypt, and Putiphar an Eunuch of Pharao, Prince of his armie, a man of Ægypt bought him, at the hand of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought. ²And ^[1] our Lord was with him, and he was a man, that in al things did prosperously: and he dwelt in his Masters house, ³who knew verie wel that our Lord was with him, and that al things which he did were directed by him in his hand. ⁴And Ioseph found grace before his Master, and ministred to him: by whom being made ruler ouer al his things, he gouerned the house committed to him, and al things that were deliuered vnto him: The foure cardinal vertues reigned in him.⁵and our Lord blessed the house of the Ægyptian for Iosephs sake, and multiplied as wel in houses, as in lands al his substance. ⁶Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he did eate. And Ioseph was of beautiful countenance, and comely fauoured to behold. ⁷After manie dayes therfore his Mistresse cast her eyes on Ioseph, and said: Sleep with me. ⁸Who ^[2] in no wise assenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my Master hauing deliuered al things vnto me, knoweth not what he hath in his owne house: ⁹neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not deliuered to me, beside thee, that art his wife: ^[3] how therfore can I do this wicked thing, and sinne against my God? ¹⁰With these kind of words ^[4] day by day both the woman was importune vpon the yong man: and he refused the aduoutrie. ¹¹And it chanced on a certaine day, that Ioseph went into the house, and did some businesse without anie man with him: ¹²and she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Sleep with me. Who ^[5] leauing the cloak in her hand, fled, and went forth abroad. ¹³And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and her selfe 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 vs: he came vpon me for to lie with me: and when I had cried out, ¹⁵and he heard my voice, he left the cloake that I held, and fled forth. ¹⁶For an argument therfore of her credit she reserued the cloake, & shewed it to her husband

1. Ioseph endowed with al vertues was a special mirrour of chastitie. S. Amb. li. de Ioseph c. 1.
2. Temperance.
3. Iustice.
4. Fortitude.
5. Prudence