1 There was a certain man a Levite, dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim, who took a wife of Bethlehem Juda:
1 There was a certain Levite, who dwelt on the side of mount Ephraim, who took a wife of Bethlehem Juda:
2 which left him, and returned unto her father's house into Bethlehem, & abode with him four months.
2 And she left him, and returned to her father’s house in Bethlehem, and abode with him four months.
3 And her husband followed her, willing to be reconciled unto her, & to speak her fair, & to bring her back with him, having in his company a servant and two asses: who received him, & brought him into her father's house. Which when his father in law had heard, and had seen him, he met him joyful.
3 And her husband followed her, willing to be reconciled with her, and to speak kindly to her, and to bring her back with him, having with him a servant and two asses: and she received him, and brought him into her father’s house. And when his father in law had heard this, and had seen him, he met him with joy,
4 and embraced the man. And the son in law tarried in the house of his father in law three days, eating with him and drinking familiarly.
4 And embraced the man. And the son in law tarried in the house of his father in law three days, eating with him and drinking familiarly.
5 But the fourth day arising before day, he would depart. Whom his father in law held, and said to him: Taste first a little bread, & strengthen thy stomach, and so thou shalt depart.
5 But on the fourth day, arising early in the morning, he desired to depart. But his father in law kept him, and said to him: Taste first a little bread, and strengthen thy stomach, and so thou shalt depart.
6 And they sat together, & did eat & drink. And the father of the young woman said to his son in law: I beseech thee that thou tarry here today, and let us make merry together.
6 And they sat down together, and ate and drank. And the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law: I beseech thee to stay here today, and let us make merry together.
7 But he rising up, began as if he would depart. And nevertheless with much ado his father in law stayed him, and made him to tarry with him.
7 But he rising up, began to be for departing. And nevertheless his father in law earnestly pressed him, and made him stay with him.
8 But when morning was come, the Levite prepared to go his journey. To whom his father in law again: I beseech thee, quoth he, that thou take a little meat, and making thyself strong, till the day be farther spent, afterward thou mayest depart. They did eat therefore together.
8 But when morning was come, the Levite prepared to go on his journey. And his father in law said to him again: I beseech thee to take a little meat, and strengthening thyself, till the day be further advanced, afterwards thou mayest depart. And they ate together.
9 And the young man arose, that he might set forward with his wife and his servant. To whom his father in law spake again: Consider that the day is more declining to the west, and draweth nigh to evening: tarry with me today also, and spend the day in mirth, and tomorrow thou shalt depart that thou mayest go into thy house.
9 And the young man arose to set forward with his wife and servant. And his father in law spoke to him again: Consider that the day is declining, and draweth toward evening: tarry with me today also, and spend the day in mirth, and tomorrow thou shalt depart, that thou mayest go into thy house.
10 His son in law would not condescend to his words: but forthwith went forward, and came over against Jebus, which by another name is called Jerusalem, leading with him two asses laden, and his concubine.
10 His son in law would not consent to his words: but forthwith went forward, and came over against Jebus, which by another name is called Jerusalem, leading with him two asses laden, and his concubine.
11 And now they were come nigh to Jebus & the day changed into night: & the servant said to his master: Come, I beseech thee, let us turn into the city of the Jebusites, and tarry in it.
11 And now they were come near Jebus, and the day was far spent: and the servant said to his master: Come, I beseech thee, let us turn into the city of the Jebusites, and lodge there.
12 To whom his master answered: I will not enter into the town of a strange nation, which is not of the children of Israel but I will pass as far as Gabaa:
12 His master answered him: I will not go into the town of another nation, who are not of the children of Israel, but I will pass over to Gabaa:
13 and when I shall come thither, we will lodge in it, or at the least in the city of Rama.
13 And when I shall come thither, we will lodge there, or at least in the city of Rama.
14 They passed therefore by Jebus, and went on their journey begun, and the sun went down to them beside Gabaa, which is in the tribe of Benjamin:
14 So they passed by Jebus, and went on their journey, and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gabaa, which is in the tribe of Benjamin:
15 and they turned into it, that they might lodge there. Whither when they were entered, they sat in the street of the city, and no man would receive them to lodge.
15 And they turned into it to lodge there. And when they were come in, they sat in the street of the city, for no man would receive them to lodge.
16 And behold there appeared an old man, returning out of the field and from his work in the evening, who himself also was of mount Ephraim, and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa; but the men of that country were the children of Jemini.
16 And behold they saw an old man, returning out of the field and from his work in the evening, and he also was of mount Ephraim, and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa; but the men of that country were the children of Jemini.
17 And lifting up his eyes, the old man saw the man sitting with his fardels in that street of the city, and said to him: Whence comest thou? And whither goest thou?
17 And the old man lifting up his eyes, saw the man sitting with his bundles in the street of the city, and said to him: Whence comest thou? And whither goest thou?
18 Who answered him: We departed from Bethlehem Juda, and we go to our place, which is on the side of mount Ephraim, from whence we went into Bethlehem: and now we go to the house of God, and none will receive us under his roof,
18 He answered him: We came out from Bethlehem Juda, and we are going to our home, which is on the side of mount Ephraim, from whence we went to Bethlehem: and now we go to the house of God, and none will receive us under his roof:
19 having straw and hay for provender of the asses, and bread and wine for the use of myself and of thy handmaid, and of the servant that is with me: we lack nothing but lodging.
19 We have straw and hay for provender of the asses, and bread and wine for the use of myself and of thy handmaid, and of the servant that is with me: we want nothing but lodging.
20 To whom the old man answered: Peace be with thee, I will give all things that are necessary: only, I beseech thee, tarry not in the street.
20 And the old man answered him: Peace be with thee: I will furnish all things that are necessary: only I beseech thee, stay not in the street.
21 And he brought him into his house, and gave provender to his asses: and after they had washed their feet, he received them to a banquet.
21 And he brought him into his house, and gave provender to his asses: and after they had washed their feet, he entertained them with a feast.
22 They making merry, and after the labour of their journey refreshing their body with meat & drink, there came men of that city, the children of Belial (that is to say, without yoke) and besetting the old man's house, began to knock at the doors, crying to the master of the house, & saying: Bring forth the man, that entered into thy house, that we may abuse him.
22 While they were making merry, and refreshing their bodies with meat and drink, after the labor of the journey, the men of that city, sons of Belial (that is, without yoke), came and beset the old man’s house, and began to knock at the door, calling to the master of the house, and saying: ¹Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may abuse him:
23 And the old man went out to them, and said: Do not so brethren, do not this evil: because this man is entered to my lodging, and cease from this folly:
23 And the old man went out to them, and said: Do not so, my brethren, do not so wickedly: because this man is come into my lodging, and cease I pray you from this folly.
24 I have a daughter that is a virgin, & this man hath a concubine, I will brink them forth to you, that you may humble them, and fulfill your lust: only, I beseech you, work not this wickedness against nature on the man.
24 I have a maiden daughter, and this man hath a concubine, I will bring them out to you, and you may humble them, and satisfy your lust: only, I beseech you, commit not this crime against nature on the man.
25 They would not agree to his words. Which the man seeing, he brought forth his concubine to them, and he delivered her to them to be illuded: whom when they had abused all the night, they let her go in the morning.
25 ²They would not be satisfied with his words; which the man seeing, brought out his concubine to them, and abandoned her to their wickedness: and when they had abused her all the night, they let her go in the morning.
26 But the woman, when the darkness departed, came to the door of the house, where her lord lodged, & there fell down.
26 But the woman, at the dawning of the day, came to the door of the house, where her lord lodged, and there fell down.
27 Morning being come, the man arose, & opened the door, that he might finish his journey begun: & behold his concubine lay before the door, her hands spread on the threshold.
27 And in the morning the man arose, and opened the door, that he might end the journey he had begun: and behold his concubine lay before the door with her hands spread on the threshold.
28 To whom he, thinking that she took her rest, spake: Arise, and let us walk, Who answering nothing, perceiving that she was dead, he took her, & laid her upon his ass, & returned into his house.
28 He thinking she was taking her rest, said to her: Arise, and let us be going. But as she made no answer, perceiving she was dead, he took her up, and laid her upon his ass, and returned to his house.
29 Which when he was entered unto, he took a sword, and cutting the carcass of his wife with her bones into twelve parts and pieces, he sent them into all the borders of Israel.
29 And when he was come home, he took a sword, and divided the dead body of his wife with her bones into twelve parts, and sent the pieces into all the borders of Israel.
30 Which when every one had seen, they cried together: There was never such a thing done in Israel from that day, when our fathers ascended out of Ægypt, until this present time: give sentence, and decree in common what is needful to be done.
30 And when everyone had seen this, they all cried out: There was never such a thing done in Israel, from the day that our fathers came up out of Egypt, until this day: give sentence, and decree in common what ought to be done.