38:20 Then Judah had his friend Hirah ¹  the Adullamite take a young goat to get back from the woman the items he had given in pledge, ²  but Hirah ³  could not find her. 38:21 He asked the men who were there, ⁴  “Where is the cult prostitute ⁵  who was at Enaim by the road?” But they replied, “There has been no cult prostitute here.” 38:22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I couldn’t find her. Moreover, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no cult prostitute here.’” 38:23 Judah said, “Let her keep the things ⁶  for herself. Otherwise we will appear to be dishonest. ⁷  I did indeed send this young goat, but you couldn’t find her.”

38:24 After three months Judah was told, ⁸  “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, ⁹  and as a result she has become pregnant.” ¹⁰  Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 38:25 While they were bringing her out, she sent word ¹¹  to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” ¹²  Then she said, “Identify ¹³  the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.” 38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright ¹⁴  than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her ¹⁵  again.