Genesis 38

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 About that time Judah parted from his brothers and pitched his tent near a certain Adullamite named Hirah.	1 At that time Juda went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Odollamite, named Hiras.
2 There he met the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua, married her, and had relations with her.	2 And he saw there the daughter of a man of Chanaan, called Sue: and taking her to wife, he went in unto her.
3 She conceived and bore a son, whom she named Er.	3 And she conceived, and bore a son, and called his name Her.
4 Again she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Onan.	4 And conceiving again, she bore a son, and called him Onan.
5 Then she bore still another son, whom she named Shelah. They were in Chezib when he was born.	5 She bore also a third: whom she called Sela. after whose birth, she ceased to bear any more.
6 Judah got a wife named Tamar for his first-born, Er.	6 And Juda took a wife for Her his firstborn, whose name was Thamar.
7 But Er, Judah's first-born, greatly offended the LORD; so the LORD took his life.	7 And Her, the firstborn of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the Lord: and was slain by him.
8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Unite with your brother's widow, in fulfillment of your duty as brother-in-law, and thus preserve your brother's line."	8 Juda, therefore add to Onan his son: Go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, that thou mayst raise seed to thy brother.
9 Onan, however, knew that the descendants would not be counted as his; so whenever he had relations with his brother's widow, he wasted his seed on the ground, to avoid contributing offspring for his brother.	9 He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in to his brother's wife, spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother's name.
10 What he did greatly offended the LORD, and the LORD took his life too.	10 And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing.
11 Thereupon Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Stay as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"--for he feared that Shelah also might die like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father's house.	11 Wherefore Juda said to Thamar his daughter in law: Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Sela my son grow up: for he was afraid lest he also might die, as his brethren did. She went her way and dwelt in her father's house.
12 Years passed, and Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. After Judah completed the period of mourning, he went up to Timnah for the shearing of his sheep, in company with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.	12 And after many days were past, the daughter of Sue the wife of Juda died: and when he had taken comfort after his mourning, he went up to Thamnas, to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hiras the Odollamite the shepherd of his flock.
13 When Tamar was told that her father-in-law was on his way up to Timnah to shear his sheep,	13 And it was told Thamar that her father in law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep.
14 she took off her widow's garb, veiled her face by covering herself with a shawl, and sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she was aware that, although Shelah was now grown up, she had not been given to him in marriage.	14 And she put off the garments of her widowhood, and took a veil: and changing her dress, sat in the cross way, that leadeth to Thamnas: because Sela was grown up, and she had not been married to him.
15 When Judah saw her, he mistook her for a harlot, since she had covered her face.	15 dummy verses inserted by amos
16 So he went over to her at the roadside, and not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he said, "Come, let me have intercourse with you." She replied, "What will you pay me for letting you have intercourse with me?"	16 When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known.
17 He answered, "I will send you a kid from the flock." "Very well," she said, "provided you leave a pledge until you send it."
18 Judah asked, "What pledge am I to give to you?" She answered, "Your seal and cord, and the staff you carry." So he gave them to her and had intercourse with her, and she conceived by him.	18 He said: I will send thee a kid out of the flock. And when she said again: I will suffer what thou wilt, if thou give a pledge, till thou send what thou promisest,
19 When she went away, she took off her shawl and put on her widow's garb again.	19 Juda said: What wilt thou have for a pledge ? She answered: Thy ring and bracelet, and the staff which thou holdest in thy hand. The woman therefore at one copulation conceived.
20 Judah sent the kid by his friend the Adullamite to recover the pledge from the woman; but he could not find her.	20 And she arose and went her way: and putting off the apparel which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood.
21 So he asked the men of the place, "Where is the temple prostitute, the one by the roadside in Enaim?" But they answered, "There has never been a temple prostitute here."	21 And Juda sent a kid by his shepherd, the Odollamite, that he might receive the pledge again, which he had given to the woman: but he, not finding her,
22 He went back to Judah and told him, "I could not find her; and besides, the men of the place said there was no temple prostitute there."	22 asked the men of that place : Where is the woman that sat in the cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this place,
23 "Let her keep the things," Judah replied; "otherwise we shall become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her the kid, even though you were unable to find her."	23 He returned to Juda, and said to him: I have not found her; moreover the men of that place said to me, that there never sat a harlot there.
24 About three months later, Judah was told that his daughter-in-law Tamar had played the harlot and was then with child from her harlotry. "Bring her out," cried Judah; "she shall be burned."	24 Juda said : Let her take it to herself ; surely she cannot charge us with a,lie: I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didst not find her.
25 But as they were bringing her out, she sent word to her father-in-law, "It is by the man to whom these things belong that I am with child. Please verify," she added, "whose seal and cord and whose staff these are."	25 And behold after three months they told a lie, saying: Thamar, thy daughter in law hath played the harlot, and she appeareth to have a big belly. And Juda said : Bring her out that she may be burnt.
26 Judah recognized them and said, "She is more in the right than I am, since I did not give her to my son Shelah." But he had no further relations with her.	26 dummy verses inserted by amos
27 When the time of her delivery came, she was found to have twins in her womb.	27 But when she was led to execution, she sent to her father in law, saying: By the man, to whom these things belong, I am with child. See whose ring, and bracelet, and staff this is.
28 While she was giving birth, one infant put out his hand; and the midwife, taking a crimson thread, tied it on his hand, to note that this one came out first.
29 But as he withdrew his hand, his brother came out; and she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was called Perez.	29 And when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying:
30 Afterward his brother came out; he was called Zerah.	30 This shall come forth the first.