1 I t came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.

At that time Judah withdrew from his brothers and went to a certain Adullamite named Hirah.

2 A nd Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.

There Judah saw and met a daughter of Shuah, a Canaanite; he took her as wife and lived with her.

3 S o she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.

And she became pregnant and bore a son, and he called him Er.

4 S he conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

And she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan.

5 A nd she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Again she conceived and bore a son and named him Shelah. at Chezib when she bore him.

6 T hen Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Now Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn; her name was Tamar.

7 B ut Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.

And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him.

8 A nd Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”

Then Judah told Onan, Marry your brother’s widow; live with her and raise offspring for your brother.

9 B ut Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.

But Onan knew that the family would not be his, so when he cohabited with his brother’s widow, he prevented conception, lest he should raise up a child for his brother.

10 A nd the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He slew him also.

11 T hen Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at your father’s house till Shelah my son is grown; for he thought, Lest perhaps he would die also, as his brothers did. So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

12 N ow in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

But later Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shuah, died; and when Judah was comforted, he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnath with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 A nd it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Then it was told Tamar, Listen, your father-in-law is going up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14 S o she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

So she put off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapped herself up, and sat in the entrance of Enaim, which is by the road to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given to him as his wife.

15 W hen Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot or devoted prostitute, for she had covered her face.

16 T hen he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

He turned to her by the road and said, Come, let me have intercourse with you; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What will you give me that you may have intercourse with me?

17 A nd he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it? ”

He answered, I will send you a kid from the flock. And she said, Will you give me a pledge (deposit) until you send it?

18 T hen he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

And he said, What pledge shall I give you? She said, Your signet, your cord, and your staff that is in your hand. And he gave them to her and came in to her, and she became pregnant by him.

19 S o she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

And she arose and went away and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 A nd Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.

And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand; but he was unable to find her.

21 T hen he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place. ”

He asked the men of that place, Where is the harlot or cult prostitute who was openly by the roadside? They said, There was no harlot or temple prostitute here.

22 S o he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place. ”

So he returned to Judah and said, I cannot find her; and also the local men said, There was no harlot or temple prostitute around here.

23 T hen Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

And Judah said, Let her keep for herself, lest we be made ashamed. I sent this kid, but you have not found her.

24 A nd it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

But about three months later Judah was told, Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot, and also she is with child by her lewdness. And Judah said, Bring her forth and let her be burned!

25 W hen she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are —the signet and cord, and staff.”

When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, I am with child by the man to whom these articles belong. Then she added, Make out clearly, I pray you, to whom these belong, the signet, cord, and staff.

26 S o Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

And Judah acknowledged them and said, She has been more righteous and just than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son. And he did not cohabit with her again.

27 N ow it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.

Now when the time came for her to be delivered, behold, there were twins in her womb.

28 A nd so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

And when she was in labor, one baby put out his hand; and the midwife took his hand and bound upon it a scarlet thread, saying, This baby was born first.

29 T hen it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.

But he drew back his hand, and behold, his brother was born first. And she said, What a breaking forth you have made for yourself! Therefore his name was called Perez.

30 A fterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

And afterward his brother who had the scarlet thread on his hand was born and was named Zerah.