⁹He knowing that the children should not be his, when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his seed upon the ground, lest children should be born in his brother’s name.

¹⁰And therefore the Lord slew him, because he did a detestable thing:

¹¹Wherefore 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.

¹²And 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.

¹³And it was told Thamar that her father-in-law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep.

¹⁴And 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.

¹⁵When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known.

¹⁶And going to her, he said: Suffer me to lie with thee: for he knew her not to be his daughter-in-law. And she answered: What wilt thou give me to enjoy my company?

¹⁷He 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 me a pledge, till thou send what thou promisest.

¹⁸Juda 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.

¹⁹And she arose and went her way: and putting off the apparel which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood.

²⁰And 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,

²¹Asked 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,

²²He 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.

²³Juda 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.

²⁴And behold, after three months, they told Juda, 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.

²⁵But 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.

²⁶But he acknowledging the gifts, said: She is juster than I: because I did not give her to Sela, my son. However he knew her no more.

²⁷And 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:

²⁸This shall come forth the first.

²⁹But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth: and the woman said: Why is the partition divided for thee? and therefore called his name Phares.

³⁰Afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread: and she called his name Zara.

Chapter 39

And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar, an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.

²And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master’s house:

³Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

⁴And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him:

⁵And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home and in the fields.

⁶Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold.

⁷And after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie with me.

⁸But he in no wise consenting to that wicked act said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house:

⁹Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife; how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God?

¹⁰With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.

¹¹Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business, without any man with him:

¹²And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.

¹³And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded,

¹⁴She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See, he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with me; and when I cried out,

¹⁵And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got him out.

¹⁶For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home:

¹⁷And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me.

¹⁸And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out.

¹⁹His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife’s words, was very angry,

²⁰And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king’s prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up.

²¹But the Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison:

²²Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done, was under him.

²³Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper.

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