1And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.19.1 a concubine: Heb. a woman a concubine, or, a wife a concubine 2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there four whole months.19.2 four whole months: or, a year and four month: Heb. days, four months 3And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.19.3 friendly…: Heb. to her heart 4And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
5¶ And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.19.5 Comfort: Heb. Strengthen 6And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry. 7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. 8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.19.8 until afternoon: Heb. till the day declined 9And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.19.9 draweth: Heb. is weak19.9 the day groweth to an end: Heb. it is the pitching time of the day19.9 home: Heb. to thy tent 10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.19.10 over against: Heb. to over against 11And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. 12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah. 13And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah. 14And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin. 15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
16¶ And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? 18And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Beth-lehem-judah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.19.18 receiveth: Heb. gathereth 19Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing. 20And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street. 21So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
22¶ Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. 23And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. 24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.19.24 so vile…: Heb. the matter of this folly 25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. 26Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. 27And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. 28And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
29¶ And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. 30And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
利未人和他的妾
1那时候，以色列没有王。有一个利未人住在以法莲山区的偏远地带，他娶了犹大伯利恒的一个女子为妾。 2那女子不忠，离开丈夫回到犹大 伯利恒的父亲家，住了四个月。 3后来，她丈夫带着一个仆人和两头驴去见她，用好话劝她回去。那女子带他去见自己的父亲。她父亲看见女婿来了，便热情地接待他， 4留他在家里小住。他便在那里住了三天，一起吃住。 5第四天，他清早起来准备回家，岳父对他说：“吃点东西补充体力后再走吧。” 6于是，二人坐下来一起吃喝。岳父对他说：“再住一夜，高兴高兴吧。” 7他不肯答应，起来要走，但岳父一再挽留，他就又住了一夜。 8第五天清早起来，他准备回家，岳父对他说：“吃点东西，太阳偏西再走吧。”于是，二人一同吃饭。 9他带着妾和仆人起来要走的时候，岳父对他说：“看啊，太阳偏西了，天色已晚，再住一夜高兴高兴，明天一早再走吧。”
10可是，他不愿意再留一夜，就备好两头驴，带着他的妾走了，来到耶布斯附近。耶布斯就是耶路撒冷。 11他们临近耶布斯时，天快黑了，仆人对主人说：“我们不如就在耶布斯人的城里住宿吧。” 12主人说：“我们不可在没有以色列人住的外邦城邑住宿，不如赶到基比亚。” 13他又说：“我们前往基比亚或拉玛住宿吧。” 14于是，他们继续前行，到便雅悯境内的基比亚时，天已经黑了。 15他们决定在那里过夜。因为没有人接待他们，他们只好在城中的广场露宿。
16那时，有一个老人从田间工作回来，经过那里。他本来是以法莲山区的人，现在住在便雅悯境内的基比亚。 17他看见有人在城中的广场露宿，就问：“你们从哪里来，要到哪里去？” 18利未人回答说：“我们从犹大的伯利恒来，正要回家去。我住在以法莲山区的偏远地带。我现在要去耶和华的殿。这里没有人接待我。 19其实我有粮草喂驴，我和我的妾及仆人也有饼和酒，什么也不缺。” 20那老人说：“到我家来吧，我会供应你们的需要，千万不可在街头露宿。” 21于是，那老人带他们回家，喂他们的驴。他们洗完脚后，便一起吃喝。
22他们正欢快的时候，城里的一群无赖前来围住房子，连连叩门，对老人说：“把你家里的客人交出来，我们要跟他性交。” 23老人出去对他们说：“弟兄们啊，不要做这种恶事！这人是我的客人，不要干这种卑鄙的事！ 24我有个女儿，仍是处女，还有这人的妾，我把她们交出来，任你们玩弄，只是不要对这人干这种卑鄙的事。” 25他们却不肯听。利未人就把自己的妾推出去交给他们。他们强暴她，终夜凌辱她，直到天快亮才放她走。 26她回到丈夫住宿的房子门前，就扑倒在地。
27早晨，她丈夫起来打开房门要上路，发现她倒卧在门前，双手搭在门槛上， 28就对她说：“起来，我们走吧！”她却没有反应。于是，他就把她的尸体放在驴背上启程回家。 29回到家里，他用刀把尸体切成十二块，派人送往以色列全境。 30看见的人都说：“自从以色列人离开埃及以来，这种事从未发生过，也从未见过。我们必须商量一下，看看该怎么办。”
