The Concubine And The Levite
1 In those days Israel had no king. There was a Levite living temporarily in the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. He acquired a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.
1 And 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 Bethlehemjudah.
1 Now it came about in those days, when (A)there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite (a)staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.
1 In those days, when there was no king in Israel,(A) a Levite living in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim acquired a woman from Bethlehem in Judah as his concubine.
1 Now it happened in those days, before there was a king in Israel, that a certain male descendant of Levi, who lived in a remote part of the mountainous region of Ephraim, took a mistress for himself from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah.
2 However, she got angry at him and went home to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months,
2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
2 But his concubine played the harlot against him, and she went away from him to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah, and was there for a period of four months.
2 But she was unfaithful to(a) him and left him for her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. She was there for a period of four months.
2 But his mistress was sexually unfaithful to him, and then she left him to live in her father's home in Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. She had been living there for a period of about four months
3 her husband came after her, hoping he could convince her to return. He brought with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father's house and the girl's father saw him, he greeted him warmly.
3 And 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.
3 Then her husband arose and went after her to (B)speak (b)tenderly to her in order to bring her back, (c)taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. So she brought him into her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he was glad to meet him.
3 Then her husband got up and went after her to speak kindly to her(b)(B) and bring her back. He had his servant with him and a pair of donkeys. So she brought him to her father’s house, and when the girl’s father saw him, he gladly welcomed him.
3 when her husband got up and went after her, intending to speak lovingly to her in order to win her back. He took with him his young man servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father's house to see him, her father was happy to have met him.
4 His father-in-law, the girl's father, persuaded him to stay with him for three days, and they ate and drank together, and spent the night there.
4 And 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.
4 His father-in-law, the girl’s father, detained him; and he remained with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there.
4 His father-in-law, the girl’s father, detained him, and he stayed with him for three days. They ate, drank, and spent the nights there.
4 The young woman's father (that is, his father-in-law) made him stay there for three days while they ate and drank during his visit there.
5 On the fourth day they woke up early and the Levite got ready to leave. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Have a bite to eat for some energy, then you can go."
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.
5 Now on the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he (d)prepared to go; and the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “(C)Sustain (e)yourself with a piece of bread, and afterward you may go.”
5 On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning and prepared to go, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Have something to eat to keep up your strength(C) and then you can go.”
5 On the fourth day, they got up early that morning, and the descendant of Levi got ready to leave. Then the young woman's father-in-law told him, "Fortify yourself by eating some food before you go."
6 So the two of them sat down and had a meal together. Then the girl's father said to the man, "Why not stay another night and have a good time!"
6 And 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.
6 So both of them sat down and ate and drank together; and the girl’s father said to the man, “Please be willing to spend the night, and (D)let your heart be merry.”
6 So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and enjoy yourself.”(D)
6 So both of them sat down for a bit, ate and drank together, and the young woman's father invited the man, "Please, enjoy yourself and spend another night."
7 When the man got ready to leave, his father-in-law convinced him to stay another night.
7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
7 Then the man arose to go, but his father-in-law urged him so that he spent the night there again.
7 The man got up to go, but his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed and spent the night there again.
7 The man got up, intending to leave, but his father-in-law urged him to spend the night there again.
8 He woke up early in the morning on the fifth day so he could leave, but the girl's father said, "Get some energy. Wait until later in the day to leave!" So they ate a meal together.
8 And 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.
8 On the fifth day he arose to go early in the morning, and the girl’s father said, “Please sustain (f)yourself, and wait until (g)afternoon”; so both of them ate.
8 He got up early in the morning of the fifth day to leave, but the girl’s father said to him, “Please keep up your strength.” So they waited until late afternoon and the two of them ate.
8 On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning, but the young woman's father-in-law told him, "Please, fortify yourself," so they delayed until later that afternoon while both of them ate together.
9 When the man got ready to leave with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Look! The day is almost over! Stay another night! Since the day is over, stay another night here and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and start your trip home."
9 And 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.
9 When the man arose to go along with his concubine and servant, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold now, the day has drawn (h)to a close; please spend the night. Lo, the day is (i)coming to an end; spend the night here that your heart may be merry. Then tomorrow you may arise early for your journey so that you may go (j)home.”
9 The man got up to go with his concubine and his servant, when his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Look, night is coming. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Spend the night here, enjoy yourself, then you can get up early tomorrow for your journey and go home.”
9 When the man got up to leave with his mistress and servant, his father-in-law, the young woman's father, told him, "Look now, evening is coming, so please spend another night. See how the daylight is fading, so spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Then tomorrow get up early and leave on your journey home."
10 But the man did not want to stay another night. He left and traveled as far as Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine.
10 But 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.
10 But the man was not willing to spend the night, so he arose and departed and came to a place opposite (E)Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). And there were with him a pair of saddled donkeys; his concubine also was with him.
10 But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up, departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem(E)). The man had his two saddled donkeys and his concubine with him.
10 Because the man was unwilling to spend the night, he got up, left, and arrived opposite Jebus (now known as Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys, along with his mistress.
11 When they got near Jebus, it was getting quite late and the servant said to his master, "Come on, let's stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night in it."
11 And 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.
11 When they were near Jebus, the day was almost gone; and (F)the servant said to his master, “Please come, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.”
11 When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant(F) said to his master, “Please, why not(c) let us stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night here?”
11 As they approached Jebus, the daylight was almost gone, so the servant suggested to his master, "Come on, let's spend the night in this Jebusite city."
12 But his master said to him, "We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. We will travel on to Gibeah."
12 And 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.
12 However, his master said to him, “We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel; but we will go on as far as Gibeah.”
12 But his master replied to him, “We will not stop at a foreign city where there are no Israelites. Let’s move on to Gibeah.”(G)
12 But his master replied, "We're not going to turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not part of the Israelis. Instead, we'll go on to Gibeah."
13 He said to his servant, "Come on, we will go into one of the other towns and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."
13 And 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.
13 He said to his servant, “Come and let us approach one of these places; and we will spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”
13 “Come on,” he said,(d) “let’s try to reach one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”
13 He also told his servant, "Come on, let's go to one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."
14 So they traveled on, and the sun went down when they were near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.
14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
14 So they passed along and went their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.
14 So they continued on their journey, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.
14 So they continued on their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin's territorial allotment.
15 They stopped there and decided to spend the night in Gibeah. They came into the city and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them to spend the night.
15 And 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.
15 They turned aside there in order to enter and lodge in Gibeah. When (k)they entered, (l)they sat down in the open square of the city, for no one took them into his house to spend the night.
15 They stopped(e) to go in and spend the night in Gibeah. The Levite went in and sat down in the city square, but no one took them into their home to spend the night.
15 They turned aside there, intending to enter Gibeah and spend the night.
16 But then an old man passed by, returning at the end of the day from his work in the field. The man was from the Ephraimite hill country; he was living temporarily in Gibeah. (The residents of the town were Benjaminites.)
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.
16 Then behold, an old man was coming out of the field from his work at evening. Now the man was from (G)the hill country of Ephraim, and he was (m)staying in Gibeah, but the men of the place (H)were Benjamites.
16 In the evening, an old man came in from his work in the field. He was from the hill country of Ephraim(H) but was residing in Gibeah, and the men of that place were Benjaminites.
16 After they entered the city, they had to sit down in the public square because no one would take them into their home for the night. Just then, an old man was coming out of the fields that evening from work. The man was from the mountainous region of Ephraim and had been staying in Gibeah, even though the men of that place were descendants of Benjamin.
17 When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said, "Where are you heading? Where do you come from?"
17 And 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?
17 And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”
17 When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”
17 As the old man looked up and saw the traveling man in the public square of the city, he asked, "Now then, where are you headed? And where are you from?"
18 The Levite said to him, "We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. That's where I'm from. I had business in Bethlehem in Judah, but now I'm heading home. But no one has invited me into their home.
18 And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
18 He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, for I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem in Judah. But I am now going to (n)my house, and no man will take me into his house.
18 He answered him, “We’re traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I’m going to the house of the Lord.(f) No one has taken me into his home,
18 He replied, "We're traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the mountainous region of Ephraim, because I'm from there, and I've been visiting Bethlehem in Judah. I'm going home now, but no one will take me into his home.
19 We have enough straw and grain for our donkeys, and there is enough food and wine for me, your female servant, and the young man who is with your servants. We lack nothing."
19 Yet 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.
19 Yet there is both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me, (o)your maidservant, and (I)the young man who is with your servants; there is no lack of anything.”
19 although we have both straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, your female servant, and the young man with your servant.(g) There is nothing we lack.”
19 Meanwhile, we also have straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, for this young woman servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. We don't need anything else."
20 The old man said, "Everything is just fine! I will take care of all your needs. But don't spend the night in the town square."
20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
20 The old man said, “(J)Peace to you. Only let me take care of all your needs; however, do not spend the night in the open square.”
20 “Peace to you,” said the old man. “I’ll take care of everything you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.”
20 The old man replied, "Don't be alarmed. I'll take care of all your needs. Just don't spend the night in the public square."
21 So he brought him to his house and fed the donkeys. They washed their feet and had a meal.
21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
21 (K)So he took him into his house and gave the donkeys fodder, and they washed their feet and ate and drank.
21 So he brought him to his house and fed the donkeys. Then they washed their feet and ate and drank.(I)
21 So he took him into his home and fed the donkeys while they refreshed themselves and had dinner.
Gibeah's Crime
22 They were having a good time, when suddenly some men of the city, some good-for-nothings, surrounded the house and kept beating on the door. They said to the old man who owned the house, "Send out the man who came to visit you so we can have sex with him."
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.
22 While they were (p)celebrating, behold, (L)the men of the city, certain (q)(M)worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have (r)relations with him.”
22 While they were enjoying themselves, all of a sudden, perverted men of the city(J) surrounded the house and beat on the door. They said to the old man who was the owner of the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him!”
22 While they were enjoying themselves, all of a sudden certain ungodly men who lived in the city surrounded the house, pounded on the door, and ordered the old man who owned the home, "Bring out the man who came to visit your home so we can have sex with him."
23 The man who owned the house went outside and said to them, "No, my brothers! Don't do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Don't do such a disgraceful thing!
23 And 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.
23 Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, (N)do not commit this act of folly.
23 The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, don’t do this evil, my brothers. After all, this man has come into my house. Don’t do this horrible thing.(K)
23 The man who owned the house went out to talk to them and pleaded with them, "No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly. This man is my guest! Don't try to do this stupid thing.
24 Here are my virgin daughter and my guest's concubine. I will send them out and you can abuse them and do to them whatever you like. But don't do such a disgraceful thing to this man!"
24 Behold, 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.
24 (O)Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. Please let me bring them out that you may ravish them and do to them (s)whatever you wish. But do not commit such an act of folly against this man.”
24 Here, let me bring out my virgin daughter(L) and the man’s concubine now. Use them(M) and do whatever you want(h) to them. But don’t do this horrible thing to this man.”
24 Instead, here's my virgin daughter and my visitor's mistress. Please let me bring them out to you. Occupy yourselves with them, and do to them whatever you would like. But don't commit such a stupid thing against this man."
25 The men refused to listen to him, so the Levite grabbed his concubine and made her go outside. They raped her and abused her all night long until morning. They let her go at dawn.
25 But 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.
25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them; and they raped her and abused her all night until morning, then let her go at the approach of dawn.
25 But the men would not listen to him, so the man seized his concubine and took her outside to them. They raped(i) her and abused her all night until morning. At daybreak they let her go.
25 But the men were unwilling to listen to him. So the descendant of Levi grabbed his mistress, took her out to them, and they raped and tortured her all night until morning. Then they released her as the first daylight was beginning to appear.
26 The woman arrived back at daybreak and was sprawled out on the doorstep of the house where her master was staying until it became light.
26 Then 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.
26 (t)As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.
26 Early that morning, the woman made her way back, and as it was getting light, she collapsed at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was.
26 As dawn was breaking, the woman approached the door of the man's home where her master was and collapsed. Eventually, full daylight came.
27 When her master got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold.
27 And 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.
27 When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold.
27 When her master got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went out to leave on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, collapsed near the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold.
27 When her master got up that morning and opened the doors of the house to leave on his way, there was his mistress, fallen dead at the door of the house with her hands grasping the threshold.
28 He said to her, "Get up, let's leave!" But there was no response. He put her on the donkey and went home.
28 And 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.
28 He said to her, “Get up and let us go,” (P)but there was no answer. Then he placed her on the donkey; and the man arose and went to his (u)home.
28 “Get up,” he told her. “Let’s go.” But there was no response.(N) So the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.
28 He spoke to her, "Get up, and let's go."
29 When he got home, he took a knife, grabbed his concubine, and carved her up into twelve pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout Israel.
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.
29 When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine and (Q)cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout the territory of Israel.
29 When he entered his house, he picked up a knife, took hold of his concubine, cut her into 12 pieces, limb by limb, and then sent her throughout the territory of Israel.
29 But there was no response. So he placed her on the donkey, mounted his own animal, and went home. When he arrived home, he grabbed a knife, took hold of his mistress, cut her apart limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her remains throughout the land of Israel.
30 Everyone who saw the sight said, "Nothing like this has happened or been witnessed during the entire time since the Israelites left the land of Egypt! Take careful note of it! Discuss it and speak!"
30 And 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.
30 All who saw it said, “Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, (R)take counsel and speak up!”
30 Everyone who saw it said, “Nothing like this has ever happened or has been seen since the day the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt to this day.(j) Think it over, discuss it, and speak up!”
30 All the witnesses said, "Nothing has happened or has been seen like this from the day the Israelis came here from the land of Egypt to this day! Think about it, get some advice about it, and then speak up about it!"