1 And it came to pass1961 in those1992 days,3117 when there was no369 king4428 in Israel,3478 that there was1961 a certain376 Levite3881 sojourning1481 on the side3411 of mount2022 Ephraim,669 who took3947 to him a concubine802 6370 out of Bethlehem-judah.4480 1035 3063

2 And his concubine6370 played the whore2181 against5921 him, and went away1980 from4480 854 him unto413 her father's1 house1004 to413 Bethlehem-judah,1035 3063 and was1961 there8033 four702 whole3117 months.2320

3 And her husband376 arose,6965 and went1980 after310 her, to speak1696 friendly5921 3820 unto her, and to bring her again,7725 having his servant5288 with5973 him, and a couple6776 of asses:2543 and she brought935 him into her father's1 house:1004 and when the father1 of the damsel5291 saw7200 him, he rejoiced8055 to meet7125 him.

4 And his father-in-law,2859 the damsel's5291 father,1 retained2388 him; and he abode3427 with854 him three7969 days:3117 so they did eat398 and drink,8354 and lodged3885 there.8033

5 And it came to pass1961 on the fourth7243 day,3117 when they arose early7925 in the morning,1242 that he rose up6965 to depart:1980 and the damsel's5291 father1 said559 unto413 his son-in-law,2860 Comfort5582 thine heart3820 with a morsel6595 of bread,3899 and afterward310 go your way.1980

6 And they sat down,3427 and did eat398 and drink8354 both8147 of them together:3162 for the damsel's5291 father1 had said559 unto413 the man,376 Be content,2974 I pray thee,4994 and tarry all night,3885 and let thine heart3820 be merry.3190

7 And when the man376 rose up6965 to depart,1980 his father-in-law2859 urged6484 him: therefore he lodged3885 there8033 again.7725

8 And he arose early7925 in the morning1242 on the fifth2549 day3117 to depart:1980 and the damsel's5291 father1 said,559 Comfort5582 thine heart,3824 I pray thee.4994 And they tarried4102 until5704 afternoon,5186 3117 and they did eat398 both8147 of them.

9 And when the man376 rose up6965 to depart,1980 he,1931 and his concubine,6370 and his servant,5288 his father-in-law,2859 the damsel's5291 father,1 said559 unto him, Behold,2009 now4994 the day3117 draweth7503 toward evening,6150 I pray you4994 tarry all night:3885 behold,2009 the day3117 groweth to an end,2583 lodge3885 here,6311 that thine heart3824 may be merry;3190 and tomorrow4279 get you early7925 on your way,1870 that thou mayest go1980 home.168

10 But the man376 would14 not3808 tarry that night,3885 but he rose up6965 and departed,1980 and came935 over against5704 5227 Jebus,2982 which1931 is Jerusalem;3389 and there were with5973 him two6776 asses2543 saddled,2280 his concubine6370 also was with5973 him.

11 And when they1992 were by5973 Jebus,2982 the day3117 was far3966 spent;7286 and the servant5288 said559 unto413 his master,113 Come,1980 I pray thee,4994 and let us turn in5493 into413 this2063 city5892 of the Jebusites,2983 and lodge3885 in it.

12 And his master113 said559 unto413 him, We will not3808 turn aside5493 hither into413 the city5892 of a stranger,5237 that834 is not3808 of the children4480 1121 of Israel;3478 we will pass over5674 to5704 Gibeah.1390

13 And he said559 unto his servant,5288 Come,1980 and let us draw near7126 to one259 of these places4725 to lodge all night,3885 in Gibeah,1390 or176 in Ramah.7414

14 And they passed on5674 and went their way;1980 and the sun8121 went down935 upon them when they were by681 Gibeah,1390 which834 belongeth to Benjamin.1144

15 And they turned aside5493 thither,8033 to go in935 and to lodge3885 in Gibeah:1390 and when he went in,935 he sat him down3427 in a street7339 of the city:5892 for there was no369 man376 that took622 them into his house1004 to lodging.3885

16 And, behold,2009 there came935 an old2205 man376 from4480 his work4639 out of4480 the field7704 at even,6153 which3676 was also of mount4480 2022 Ephraim;669 and he1931 sojourned1481 in Gibeah:1390 but the men376 of the place4725 were Benjamites.1145

17 And when he had lifted up5375 his eyes,5869 he saw7200 853 a wayfaring732 man376 in the street7339 of the city:5892 and the old2205 man376 said,559 Whither4480 575 goest1980 thou? and whence4480 370 comest935 thou?

18 And he said559 unto413 him, We587 are passing5674 from Bethlehem-judah4480 1035 3063 toward5704 the side3411 of mount2022 Ephraim;669 from thence4480 8033 am I:595 and I went1980 to5704 Bethlehem-judah,1035 3063 but I589 am now going1980 to the house1004 of the LORD;3068 and there is no369 man376 that receiveth622 me to house.1004

19 Yet there is3426 both1571 straw8401 and1571 provender4554 for our asses;2543 and there is3426 bread3899 and wine3196 also1571 for me, and for thy handmaid,519 and for the young man5288 which is with5973 thy servants:5650 there is no369 want4270 of any3605 thing.1697

20 And the old2205 man376 said,559 Peace7965 be with thee; howsoever7535 let all3605 thy wants4270 lie upon5921 me; only7535 lodge3885 not408 in the street.7339

21 So he brought935 him into his house,1004 and gave provender1101 unto the asses:2543 and they washed7364 their feet,7272 and did eat398 and drink.8354

22 Now as they1992 were making their hearts merry,3190 853 3820 behold,2009 the men376 of the city,5892 certain376 sons1121 of Belial,1100 beset the house round about,5437 853 1004 and beat1849 at5921 the door,1817 and spoke559 to413 the master1167 of the house,1004 the old man,2205 saying,559 Bring forth3318 853 the man376 that834 came935 into413 thine house,1004 that we may know3045 him.

23 And the man,376 the master1167 of the house,1004 went out3318 unto413 them, and said559 unto413 them, Nay,408 my brethren,251 nay, I pray you,4994 do not so wickedly;7489 408 seeing that310 834 this2088 man376 is come935 into413 mine house,1004 do6213 not408 853 this2063 folly.5039

24 Behold,2009 here is my daughter1323 a maiden,1330 and his concubine;6370 them I will bring out3318 now,4994 and humble6031 ye them, and do6213 with them what seemeth5869 good2896 unto you: but unto this2088 man376 do6213 not3808 so2063 vile5039 a thing.1697

25 But the men376 would14 not3808 hearken8085 to him: so the man376 took2388 his concubine,6370 and brought her forth3318 2351 unto413 them; and they knew3045 her, and abused5953 her all3605 the night3915 until5704 the morning:1242 and when the day7837 began to spring,5927 they let her go.7971

26 Then came935 the woman802 in the dawning6437 of the day,1242 and fell down5307 at the door6607 of the man's376 house1004 where834 8033 her lord113 was, till5704 it was light.216

27 And her lord113 rose up6965 in the morning,1242 and opened6605 the doors1817 of the house,1004 and went out3318 to go1980 his way:1870 and, behold,2009 the woman802 his concubine6370 was fallen down5307 at the door6607 of the house,1004 and her hands3027 were upon5921 the threshold.5592

28 And he said559 unto413 her, Up,6965 and let us be going.1980 But none369 answered.6030 Then the man took3947 her up upon5921 an ass,2543 and the man376 rose up,6965 and got1980 him unto his place.4725

29 And when he was come935 into413 his house,1004 he took3947 853 a knife,3979 and laid hold2388 on his concubine,6370 and divided5408 her, together with her bones,6106 into twelve8147 6240 pieces,5409 and sent7971 her into all3605 the coasts1366 of Israel.3478

30 And it was1961 so, that all3605 that saw7200 it said,559 There was no3808 such2063 deed done1961 nor3808 seen7200 from the day4480 3117 that the children1121 of Israel3478 came up5927 out of the land4480 776 of Egypt4714 unto5704 this2088 day:3117 consider7760 of5921 it, take advice,5779 and speak1696 your minds.