1. Kwathi ngaleso sikhathi uJuda wasuka kubafowabo, wehla, waya kumuntu wase-Adulamu ogama lakhe linguHira.
2. UJuda wabona lapho indodakazi yomuntu waseKhanani ogama lakhe linguShuwa; wayithatha, wangena kuyo.
3. Yakhulelwa, yazala indodana, yaqamba igama layo ngokuthi u-Eri.
4. Yabuye yakhulelwa, yazala indodana, yaqamba igama layo ngokuthi u-Onani.
5. Yabuye yazala futhi indodana, yaqamba igama layo ngokuthi uShela; uJuda wayeseKesibi ekuyizaleni kwayo.
6. UJuda wamthathela u-Eri izibulo lakhe umfazi ogama lakhe linguTamari.
7. U-Eri izibulo likaJuda wayemubi emehlweni kaJehova; uJehova wambulala.
8. UJuda wathi ku-Onani: “Yiya kumkamfowenu, umngene, umvusele umfowenu inzalo.”
9. U-Onani wayekwazi ukuthi inzalo ayiyikuba ngeyakhe; kwathi nxa engena kumkamfowabo, wachitha emhlabathini ukuba angamniki umfowabo inzalo.
10. Kwaba kubi emehlweni kaJehova lokho akwenzileyo; wambulala naye futhi.
11. UJuda wayesethi kuTamari umalokazana wakhe: “Hlala ungumfelokazi endlini kayihlo, aze akhule uShela indodana yami,” ngokuba wathi: “Ukuba angafi njengabafowabo.” UTamari waya wahlala kwabo.
12. Emva kwezinsuku eziningi yafa indodakazi kaShuwa umkaJuda; eseduduzekile uJuda wakhuphuka, waya kubo abagundi bezimvu zakhe eThimna, yena kanye nomhlobo wakhe uHira wase-Adulamu.
13. Kwatshelwa uTamari ukuthi: “Bheka, uyihlozala uyakhuphukela eThimna ukuyogunda izimvu zakhe.”
14. Wayesekhumula izingubo zakhe zobufelokazi, wagubuzela, wazimboza, wahlala esangweni lase-Enayimi ngasendleleni eya eThimna, ngokuba wabona ukuthi uShela usekhulile, engamnikwa nokho abe ngumkakhe.