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 {cf15I was} Hirah.
2. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name {cf15I was} Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3. And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
5. And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name {cf15I was} Tamar.
7. And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
8. And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled {cf15I it} on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
11. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren {cf15I did}. And Tamar went and dwelt 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 unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13. And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
14. And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which {cf15I is} by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15. When Judah saw her, he thought her {cf15I to be} an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she {cf15I was} his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
17. And he said, I will send {cf15I thee} a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give {cf15I me} a pledge, till thou send {cf15I it}?
18. And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that {cf15I is} in thine hand. And he gave {cf15I it} her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
19. And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20. And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive {cf15I his} pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
21. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where {cf15I is} the harlot, that {cf15I was} openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this {cf15I place}.
22. And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, {cf15I that} there was no harlot in this {cf15I place}.
23. And Judah said, Let her take {cf15I it} to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24. And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she {cf15I is} with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
25. When she {cf15I was} brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these {cf15I are, am} I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose {cf15I are} these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
26. And Judah acknowledged {cf15I 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.
27. And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins {cf15I were} in her womb.
28. And it came to pass, when she travailed, that {cf15I the one} put out {cf15I his} hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This 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? {cf15I this} breach {cf15I be} upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30. And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.