Testament of Joseph 2:1–84

¹ YE see, therefore, my children, how great things patience worketh, and prayer with fasting. (T12) ² So ye too, if ye follow after chastity and purity with patience and prayer, with fasting in humility of heart, the Lord will dwell among you because He loveth chastity. (T12) ³ And wheresoever the Most High dwelleth, even though envy, or slavery, or slander befalleth a man, the Lord who dwelleth in him, for the sake of his chastity not only delivereth him from evil, but also exalteth him even as me. (T12) ⁴ For in every way the man is lifted up, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought. (T12) ⁵ My brethren knew how my father loved me, and yet I did not exalt myself in my mind: although I was a child, I had the fear of God in my heart; for I knew that all things would pass away. (T12) ⁶ And I did not raise myself against them with evil intent, but I honoured my brethren; and out of respect for them, even when I was being sold, I refrained from telling the Ishmaelites that I was a son of Jacob, a great man and a mighty. (T12) ⁷ Do ye also, my children, have the fear of God in all your works before your eyes, and honour your brethren. (T12) ⁸ For every one who doeth the law of the Lord shall be loved by Him. (T12) ⁹ And when I came to the Indocolpitae with the Ishmaelites, they asked me, saying: (T12) ¹⁰ Art thou a slave? And I said that I was a home-born slave, that I might not put my brethren to shame. (T12) ¹¹ And the eldest of them said unto me: Thou art not a slave, for even thy appearance doth make it manifest. (T12) ¹² But I said that I was their slave. (T12) ¹³ Now when we came into Egypt they strove concerning me, which of them should buy me and take me. (T12) ¹⁴ Therefore it seemed good to all that I should remain in Egypt with the merchant of their trade, until they should return bringing merchandise. (T12) ¹⁵ And the Lord gave me favour in the eyes of the merchant, and he entrusted unto me his house. (T12) ¹⁶ And God blessed him by my means, and increased him in gold and silver and in household servants. (T12) ¹⁷ And I was with him three months and five days. (T12) ¹⁸ And about that time the Memphian woman, the wife of Pentephris came down in a chariot, with great pomp, because she had heard from her eunuchs concerning me. (T12) ¹⁹ And she told her husband that the merchant had become rich by means of a young Hebrew, and they say that he had assuredly been stolen out of the land of Canaan. (T12) ²⁰ Now, therefore, render justice unto him, and take away the youth to thy house; so shall the God of the Hebrews bless thee, for grace from heaven is upon him. (T12) ²¹ And Pentephris was persuaded by her words, and commanded the merchant to be brought, and said unto him: (T12) ²² What is this that I hear concerning thee, that thou stealest persons o… (T12)