Genesis 38

1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

It came about at that time that Judah left his brothers and stayed with a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in to her.

He met there a daughter of a Canaanite man whose name was Shua. He married her and slept with her.

3 And she conceived, and bore a son; and he called his name Er.

She became pregnant and had a son. He was named Er.

4 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan.

She became pregnant again and had a son. She called his name Onan.

5 And she yet again conceived, and bore a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him.

She again had a son and called his name Shelah. It was at Kezib where she gave birth to him.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

Judah found a wife for Er, his firstborn. Her name was Tamar.

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

Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him.

8 And Judah said to Onan, Go in to thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother's wife. Do the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a child for your brother.”

9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he wasted it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.

Onan knew that the child would not be his. Whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled the semen on the ground so he would not have a child for his brother.

10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: therefore he slew him also.

What he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him also.

11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son shall be grown: for he said, Lest perhaps he die also, as his brethren did. 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, grows up.” For he feared, “He might also die, just like his brothers.” Tamar left and lived in her father's house.

12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

After a long time, Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 And it was told to Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

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

14 And she put off from her, her widow’s garments, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him for a wife.

She took off the clothing of her widowhood and covered herself with her veil and wrapped herself. She sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up but she had not been given to him as a wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

When Judah saw her he thought that she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.

16 And he turned to her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me come in to thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in to me?

He went to her by the road and said, “Come, please let me sleep with you”—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law—and she said, “What will you give me so you can sleep with me?”

17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou sendest 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 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.

He said, “What pledge can I give you?” She replied, “Your seal and cord, and the staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.

19 And she arose, and went her way, and laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

She got up and went away. She took off her veil and put on the clothing of her widowhood.

20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.

Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order that he might receive the pledge back from the woman's hand, but he did not find her.

21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.

Then the Adullamite asked the men of the place, “Where is the cultic prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has not been a cultic prostitute here.”

22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.

He returned to Judah and said, “I did not find her. Also, the men of the place said, 'There has not been a cultic prostitute here.'”

23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

Judah said, “Let her keep the things, that we not be put to shame. Indeed, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told to Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by harlotry. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

It came about after about three months that it was told to Judah, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has committed prostitution, and indeed, she is pregnant by it.” Judah said, “Bring her here and let her be burned.”

25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law a message, “By the man who owns these I am pregnant.” She said, “Determine please whose these are, the seal and cords and staff.”

26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I am, since I did not give her as a wife to Shelah, my son.” He did not sleep with her again.

27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

It came about at the time for her to give birth that, behold, twins were in her womb.

28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

It came about as she was giving birth one put out a hand, and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand and said, “This one came out first.”

29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

But then he drew back his hand, and, behold, his brother came out first. The midwife said, “How you have broken out!” So he was named Perez.

30 And afterwards came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Then his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread upon his hand, and he was named Zerah.