15. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face.
16. He turned to her by the road and said, “Come now, let me have relations with you” (for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law).And she said, “What will you give me, so that you may have relations with me?”
17. And he said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.”And she said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
18. And he said, “What pledge should I give you?”And she said, “Your signet, your bracelets, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him.
19. She arose and went away, and taking off her veil, she put on her widow’s clothing.
20. Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he could not find her.
21. Then he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?”And they said, “There was no prostitute in this place.”
22. So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no cult prostitute in this place.”
23. Judah replied, “Let her keep them for herself, or we shall be laughed at. I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”
24. After about three months, it was told Judah, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has turned to prostitution, and what is more, as a result of prostitution she is pregnant.”Then Judah said, “Bring her forth, and let her be burned!”
25. When she was brought forth, she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong am I with child.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are—the signet and bracelet and staff.”
26. Judah recognized them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have relations with her again.
27. When it was time for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.