Genesis 38:21   (Read all of Genesis 38)

He asked the men who lived there, "Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?" "There hasn't been any shrine prostitute here," they said.

Genesis 38:22   (Read all of Genesis 38)

So he went back to Judah and said, "I didn't find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, 'There hasn't been any shrine prostitute here.' "

Genesis 38:23   (Read all of Genesis 38)

Then Judah said, "Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn't find her."

Genesis 38:24   (Read all of Genesis 38)

About three months later Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant." Judah said, "Bring her out and have her burned to death!"

Genesis 38:25   (Read all of Genesis 38)

As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. "I am pregnant by the man who owns these," she said. And she added, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are."

Genesis 38:26   (Read all of Genesis 38)

Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again.

Genesis 38:28   (Read all of Genesis 38)

As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, "This one came out first."

Genesis 38:29   (Read all of Genesis 38)

But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, "So this is how you have broken out!" And he was named Perez.

Genesis 38:30   (Read all of Genesis 38)

Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.

Genesis 39:2   (Read all of Genesis 39)

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:3   (Read all of Genesis 39)

When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did,

Genesis 39:6   (Read all of Genesis 39)

So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

Genesis 39:7   (Read all of Genesis 39)

and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!"

Genesis 39:9   (Read all of Genesis 39)

No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"

Genesis 39:10   (Read all of Genesis 39)

And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

Genesis 39:11   (Read all of Genesis 39)

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.

Genesis 39:12   (Read all of Genesis 39)

She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Genesis 39:13   (Read all of Genesis 39)

When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house,

Genesis 39:14   (Read all of Genesis 39)

she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.

Genesis 39:15   (Read all of Genesis 39)

When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."

Genesis 39:16   (Read all of Genesis 39)

She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.

Genesis 39:17   (Read all of Genesis 39)

Then she told him this story: "That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me.

Genesis 39:18   (Read all of Genesis 39)

But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house."

Genesis 39:19   (Read all of Genesis 39)

When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger.