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 went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was 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.

Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her, and went in to her.

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

She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.

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

She conceived again, and bore a son; and she 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.

She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him.

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

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

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

Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight. Yahweh killed 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.”

Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring forl 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.

Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.

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

The thing which he did was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and he killed 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 in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up”; for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” 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.

After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and 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.”

Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah 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.

She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn’t given to him as a 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 that she was a 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 way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to 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 said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, 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.

He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.

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

She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, 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.

Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he didn’t 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. ”

Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no 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. ”

He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute 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.”

Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t 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!”

About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burnt.”

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 out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man, whose these are, I am with child.” She also said, “Please discern whose are these—the signet, and the cords, and the 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.

Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more.

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

In the time of her travail, behold, twins were 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.”

When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out 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.

As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach 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.

Afterward his brother came out, that had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.