Genesis

38 Around that time, Judah leave im brothers, and put im tent near one man wey be A·dul′lam person wey im name na Hi′rah. 2 For there, Judah see the daughter of one Ca′naan person wey im name na Shu′a. So e marry-am and sleep with-am, 3 and e get belle. After, e born boy and Judah name-am Er. 4 E get belle again, and born boy and name-am O′nan. 5 The woman still born another boy and name-am She′lah. E* dey Ach′zib when the woman born the boy.

6 After some time, Judah marry wife for im firstborn Er, and the name of the wife na Ta′mar. 7 But Jehovah no like wetin Er wey be Judah firstborn de do; so Jehovah kill-am. 8 Because of this one, Judah tell O′nan say: “Marry your brother wife and do the things wey you suppose do for-am as im brother-in-law. Sleep with-am so that you go fit born children for your brother.” 9 But O′nan know say them no go see the pikin as im own. So when e de sleep with im brother wife, e de troway im sperm for ground so that e no go born pikin for im brother. 10 Wetin e do bad for Jehovah eyes, so e kill-am too. 11 Judah tell Ta′mar im daughter-in-law say: “Go stay as widow for your papa house until my son She′lah don big,” because Judah tell imself say: ‘She′lah fit die too like im brothers.’ So Ta′mar go stay for im own papa house.

12 After some time don pass, Judah wife, wey be the daughter of Shu′a die. When Judah don complete the time wey e use mourn im wife, e go meet the people wey de remove hair from im sheep body for Tim′nah and e go with im friend Hi′rah wey be A·dul′lam person. 13 Then them tell Ta′mar say: “See, your father-in-law de go Tim′nah go comot hair from im sheep body.” 14 So e comot im widow cloth, and use scarf cover im face, then use cloth cover the up part of im body. E come sitdown for the gate of E·na′im, wey dey the road to Tim′nah, because Ta′mar see say She′lah don grow but them never carry Ta′mar give She′lah to be im wife.

15 When Judah see-am, e just think say na prostitute e be, because the woman cover im face. 16 So e go meet-am for corner of the road and talk say: “Abeg, allow me make I sleep with you,” because e no know say the woman na im daughter-in-law. But the woman ask-am say: “Wetin you go give me so that you go fit sleep with me?” 17 So e tell-am say: “I go give you one young goat from my animals.” But the woman ask-am say: “You go give me something as proof say you go send the goat?” 18 Then e ask-am say: “Wetin you want make I give you as proof?” The woman come talk say: “Give me your special ring, your rope and your walking stick wey you hold for hand.” Then e carry them give the woman and sleep with-am, and the woman get belle for-am. 19 After that one, Ta′mar stand up and comot. Then e remove the cloth wey im use cover the up part of im body, and wear the cloths wey e de wear as widow.

20 Judah give the young goat to im friend wey be the A·dul′lam person say make e go give the woman so that e go take back the things wey e give-am as proof, but the man no see the woman. 21 E ask the men wey dey the area say: “Where that temple prostitute wey de dey road for E·na′im?” But them tell-am say: “No temple prostitute don ever dey for this place.” 22 At last, e go back go meet Judah and tell-am say: “I no see-am. Apart from that one, the men for the area talk say, ‘No temple prostitute don ever dey for this place.’” 23 So Judah talk say: “Make the woman keep the things wey e don collect, so that we no go disgrace ourself. After all, I send the young goat, but you no see the woman.”

24 But after about three months, them tell Judah say: “Your daughter-in-law Ta′mar don go sleep with man as prostitute, and e don get belle.” So Judah talk say: “Make una bring-am come out make them burn-am.” 25 As them de bring-am come out, e send message to im father-in-law say: “Na the man wey get this things give me belle.” E still talk say: “Abeg check this things and see who get them, the special ring, the rope, and the walking stick.” 26 Then Judah check the things and talk say: “E dey righteous pass me, because I no give-am to She′lah my son.” And after that one, Judah no sleep with-am again.

27 When the time reach for-am to born, them see say na twins dey inside im belle. 28 As e de born, one of the twins bring out im hand. Quick-quick, the woman wey de help-am born carry red thread, tie-am for the pikin hand and talk say: “Na this one first come out.” 29 But as e just draw im hand go back, im brother come out, and the woman shout say: “See how you don force yourself come out!” So them name-am Pe′rez.* 30 After, im brother wey them tie red thread for im hand come out, them come name-am Ze′rah.