And it came to passin thosedays, when there was nokingin Israel, that there wasa certainLevitesojourningon the sideof mountEphraim, who tookto him a concubineout of Bethlehem-judah. And his concubineplayed the whoreagainsthim, and went awayfromhim untoher father's housetoBethlehem-judah, and wastherefourwholemonths. And her husbandarose, and wentafterher, to speakfriendlyunto her, and to bring her again, having his servantwithhim, and a coupleof asses: and she broughthim into her father's house: and when the fatherof the damselsawhim, he rejoicedto meethim. And his father-in-law, the damsel's father, retainedhim; and he abodewithhim threedays: so they did eatand drink, and lodgedthere. And it came to passon the fourthday, when they arose earlyin the morning, that he rose upto depart: and the damsel's fathersaiduntohis son-in-law, Comfortthine heartwith a morselof bread, and afterwardgo your way. And they sat down, and did eatand drinkbothof them together: for the damsel's fatherhad saiduntothe man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heartbe merry. And when the manrose upto depart, his father-in-law urgedhim: therefore he lodgedthereagain. And he arose earlyin the morningon the fifthdayto depart: and the damsel's fathersaid, Comfortthine heart, I pray thee. And they tarrieduntilafternoon, and they did eatbothof them. And when the manrose upto depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the damsel's father, saidunto him, Behold, nowthe daydrawethtoward evening, I pray youtarry all night: behold, the daygroweth to an end, lodgehere, that thine heartmay be merry; and tomorrowget you earlyon your way, that thou mayest gohome. But the manwouldnottarry that night, but he rose upand departed, and cameover againstJebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were withhim twoassessaddled, his concubinealso was withhim. And when they were byJebus, the daywas farspent; and the servantsaiduntohis master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn inintothiscityof the Jebusites, and lodgein it. And his mastersaiduntohim, We will notturn asidehither intothe cityof a stranger, that is notof the childrenof Israel; we will pass overtoGibeah. And he saidunto his servant, Come, and let us draw nearto oneof these placesto lodge all night, in Gibeah, orin Ramah. And they passed onand went their way; and the sunwent downupon them when they were byGibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin. And they turned asidethither, to go in and to lodgein Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him downin a streetof the city: for there was nomanthat tookthem into his houseto lodging. And, behold, there camean oldmanfromhis workout ofthe fieldat even, which was also of mountEphraim; and hesojournedin Gibeah: but the menof the place were Benjamites. And when he had lifted uphis eyes, he sawa wayfaringmanin the streetof the city: and the oldmansaid, Whithergoestthou? and whencecomestthou? And he saiduntohim, We are passingfrom Bethlehem-judah towardthe sideof mountEphraim; from thence am I: and I wenttoBethlehem-judah, but I am now goingto the houseof the LORD; and there is nomanthat receivethme to house. Yet there isbothstrawandprovenderfor our asses; and there isbreadand winealsofor me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is withthy servants: there is nowantof anything. And the oldmansaid, Peace be with thee; howsoever let allthy wants lie uponme; onlylodgenotin the street. So he broughthim into his house, and gave provenderunto the asses: and they washedtheir feet, and did eatand drink. Now as theywere making their hearts merry, behold, the menof the city, certainsonsof Belial, beset the house round about, and beatatthe door, and spoketothe masterof the house, the old man, saying, Bring forththe manthatcameintothine house, that we may knowhim. And the man, the masterof the house, went outuntothem, and saiduntothem, Nay, my brethren, nay , I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing thatthismanis comeintomine house, donotthisfolly. Behold, here is my daughtera maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring outnow, and humbleye them, and dowith them what seemethgoodunto you: but unto thismandonotsovilea thing. But the menwouldnothearkento him: so the mantookhis concubine, and brought her forthuntothem; and they knewher, and abusedher allthe nightuntilthe morning: and when the daybegan to spring, they let her go. Then camethe womanin the dawningof the day, and fell downat the doorof the man's housewhereher lord was , tillit was light. And her lordrose upin the morning, and openedthe doorsof the house, and went outto gohis way: and, behold, the womanhis concubinewas fallen down at the doorof the house, and her hands were uponthe threshold. And he saiduntoher, Up, and let us be going. But noneanswered. Then the man tookher up uponan ass, and the manrose up, and gothim unto his place. And when he was comeintohis house, he tooka knife, and laid holdon his concubine, and dividedher, together with her bones, into twelvepieces, and senther into allthe coastsof Israel. And it wasso, that allthat sawit said, There was nosuchdeed donenorseenfrom the daythat the childrenof Israelcame upout of the landof Egyptuntothisday: considerofit, take advice, and speak your minds .