Genesis 38:17-26

17He said, therefore, “I will send you a 1young goat from the flock.” She then said, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “2Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him. 19Then she got up and departed, and 3removed her 4veil and put on her widow’s garments.

20When Judah sent the 5young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21He asked the people of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the people of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23Then Judah said, “Let her 6keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. 7After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

24Now it was about three months later that Judah was 8informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and behold, she is also pregnant by prostitution.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and 9have her burned!” 25It was while she was being brought out that she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong.” She also said, “10Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26And Judah recognized them, and said, “11She is more righteous than I, since 12I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not 13have relations with her again.