1 Wakati hinyo, Juda watsama pha nduguze na achendasagala na mutu mmwenga aihwaye Hira, kula mudzi wa Adulamu. 2 Juda ariphokala hiko, wakutana na msichana wa Chikanani, mwana wa Shuwa, na achimlóla. 3 Wagbwira mimba na achivyala naye mwana mlume, achimuiha Eri. 4 Wagbwira mimba tsona na achivyala mwana mlume wanjina, nine achimuiha Onani. 5 Chisha wavyala mwana mlume wanjina achimuiha Shela. Juda kala asagala Kezibu mwanawe hiyu phovyalwa.

6 Juda wamlóza Eri, mwanawe mvyere; mchetu yeihwa Tamari. 7 Ela Eri, mwana wa kpwandza wa Juda, kala ni mutu mui, uyiwe wamreyeza Mwenyezi Mlungu, na Mwenyezi Mlungu achimuolaga. 8 Ndipho Juda achimuambira Onani, “Muhale hiyu gungu wa mfwadzi mwenenu, ili umvyarire mwenenu mrisi, mana ndiyo shariya.” 9 Ela Onani wamanya kukala mwana ndiyevyalwa, siye wakpwe, kpwa hivyo chila aripholala naye, mbeyu wazimwaga photsi, ili nduguye asiphahe mwana. 10 Gaga arigogahenda kala ni mai matsoni pha Mwenyezi Mlungu, naye piya achimuolaga. 11 Ndipho Juda achimuambira mkpwaza-mwanawe Tamari, “Mayo, uya kaya kpwa sowe, na ukasale gungu hadi mwanangu Shela ndiphokala mvyere.” Waamba hivyo, mana waogopha kukala mwanawe naye andafwa dza nduguze. Kpwa hivyo, Tamari wauya kpwa ise.

12 Bada ya muda mure mkpwaza Juda, mwana wa Shuwa wafwa. Ariphokala rohore rikadigirika kuhusu chifo cha mchewe, wauka na msenawe Hira kula Adulamu, na achiphiya Timuna ambako mangʼondzige kala ganakatwa nyoya.

13 Tamari ariphoambwa, “Sowe-vyala anaphiya Timuna kpwendakata nyoya mangʼondzige,” 14 wavula nguwoze za ugungu, achidzibwiningiza utaji ili asimanyikane, halafu achendasagala ryango ra kuinjirira Enaimu, ririro njira ya kuphiya Timuna. Mana waona kukala Shela akakula, ela Juda kamloza akakala mkpwaza Shela.

15 Juda ariphomuona Tamari, waona labuda ni malaya, mana kala akadziziba uso. 16 Juda kamanyire kukala ni mkpwaza-mwanawe. Juda waphiya pho kanda-kanda ya njira ariphokala, achimuamba, “Nalonda nlale na uwe.” Achimuamba, “Undaniphani uchilala na mimi?” 17 Achimuamba, “Nindakurehera mwana mbuzi kula kpwangu chaani.” Naye achiamba, “Ika chitu mzamana hadi ndiphoreha mwana mbuzi.” 18 Juda achiamba, “Niike utu wani mzamana?” Naye achiamba, “Nipha yo peheyo ya muhuri, lugbwero na bakorayo.” Ndipho Juda achimupha vira vitu na achilala naye, naye achigbwira mimba. 19 Tamari ariphouya kaya, wavula hura utaji na achivwala tsona nguwoze za ugungu.

20 Badaye Juda wahuma msenawe Hira kula Adulamu amphirikire yuya mchetu mwana mbuzi ili auyizirwe vituvye vyoviika mzamana, ela Hira kamuonere yuya mchetu. 21 Hira wauza enyezi alume achiamba, “A kuphi yuya malaya yekala hipha Enaimu kanda-kanda ya njira?” Aho achiamba, “Taphadzangbwekala na malaya yeyesi hipha.” 22 Ndipho, Hira wauya kpwa Juda na achendamuamba, “Sikamphaha, tsona atu a hiko anaamba taphadzangbwekala na malaya yeyesi.” 23 Juda achiamba, “A! Nahumriche navyo, sedze akahuricha hukatsekpwa. Mino nkamuhumira mwana mbuzi umphirikire, ela kumuonere.”

24 Bada ya kama miezi mihahu, Juda waambirwa, “Mkpwaza-mwanao Tamari wahenda umalaya vino ana mimba.” Juda achiamba, “Kamtuluzeni kondze mmutiye moho afwe.” 25 Ariphotuluzwa kondze, walavya muhumwa kpwa ise-vyala akamuambe, “Mwenye vitu hivi ndiye yenitiya mimba. Tafadhali vilole ichikala undamanya ni vya ani; Pehe ihi ya muhuri, mkowa uhu na bakora ihi.” 26 Juda ariphoviona, wavitambukira na achiamba, “Mchetu hiyu ana haki kuriko mimi, mana siyamlóza mwanangu Shela.” Juda kayalala naye tsona.

27 Wakatiwe wa kudzivugula uriphofika, wavyala patsa ya alume ahuphu. 28 Saa ya kudzivugula, mmwenga watuluza mkpwono phondze, halafu mvyalusadzi achihala wuuzi wa kundu achimfunga mkpwononi na achiamba, “Hiyu ndiye chiyevyalwa na mbere.” 29 Ela ariphouyiza mkpwonowe ndani, nduguye wavyalwa, chisha yuya mvyalusadzi achiamba, “Mbona we ukatsapa kpwa nguvu!” Phahi hiyu waihwa Peresi.* 38:29 Peresi manage ni kutsapa kpwa nguvu. 30 Badaye, nduguye yekala ana wuuzi wa kundu mkpwononi wavyalwa, achiihwa Zera.† 38:30 Zera manage ni mwanga wa kundu wa ligundzu ichikala kunacha.