Ʋɔnudrɔ̃lawo 19
1 Le ɣe ma ɣi me la, fia aɖeke menɔ Israel o. Ŋutsu aɖe tso Levi ƒe viwo dome nɔ Efraim ƒe tonyigba dzi ƒe kɔƒe aɖe me. Etsɔ ahiãvi tso Betlehem le Yuda.
There was a certain man, a Levite, living beside mount Ephraim, who took a wife from Bethlehem of Judah.
2 Ke nyɔnuvi la do dɔmedzoe ɖe eŋu eye wòsi yi fofoa gbɔ le Betlehem, henɔ afi ma ɣleti ene.
She left him, and she returned to the house of her father in Bethlehem. And she stayed with him for four months.
3 Ŋutsu sia kplɔ subɔla ɖeka kple tedzi eve yi be yewoable ahiãvi la nu akplɔe agbɔe. Esi woɖo Betlehem la, nyɔnuvi la xɔ wo nyuie eye wòɖe wo fia fofoa, ame si hã xɔ wo nyuie
And her husband followed her, wishing to be reconciled with her, and to speak kindly to her, and to lead her back with him. And he had with him a servant and two donkeys. And she received him, and brought him into the house of her father. And when his father-in-law had heard about this, and had seen him, he met him with joy.
4 eye wòbia tso wo si be woanɔ yewo gbɔ vie. Ale wonɔ wo gbɔ ŋkeke etɔ̃ le dzidzɔ kple dzidzeme me. Woɖu nu, no nu eye wotsi afi ma dɔ ŋkeke etɔ̃.
And he embraced the man. And the son-in-law stayed in the house of his father-in-law for three days, eating and drinking with him in a friendly manner.
5 Le ŋkeke enelia gbe la, wofɔ kaba hedzra ɖo na dzodzo, ke nyɔnuvi la fofo zi wo dzi be woaɖu ŋdinu gbã.
But on the fourth day, arising in the night, he intended to set out. But his father-in-law took hold of him, and he said to him, “First taste a little bread, and strengthen your stomach, and then you shall set out.”
6 Ale wo kple eve la wonɔ anyi, eye woɖu nu, no nu ɖekae. Emegbe la nyɔnuvi la fofo gblɔ be, “Meɖe kuku tsi mía gbɔ egbe sia hã eye nàdo dzidzɔ na ɖokuiwò.”
And they sat down together, and they ate and drank. And the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law, “I ask you to remain here today, so that we may rejoice together.”
7 Ŋutsu la melɔ̃ ɖe edzi gbã o gake aƒea tɔ ƒoe ɖe enu va se ɖe esime wòlɔ̃.
But getting up, he intended to begin to set out. But nevertheless, his father-in-law pressed him resolutely, and made him remain with him.
8 Esi ŋu ke la, wogafɔ kaba hena dzodzo gake nyɔnuvi la fofo gagblɔ nɛ be, “Miganɔ anyi egbea ko eye miadzo egbe fiẽ.” Ale woganɔ anyi, ɖu nu, no nu ŋkeke ɖeka kpee.
But when morning came, the Levite was preparing for his journey. And his father-in-law said to him again, “I beg you to take a little food, and to be strengthened, until the daylight increases, and after that, you shall set out.” Therefore, they ate together.
9 Gbe ma gbe ɣetrɔ esi Levitɔ la kple eƒe ahiãvi la kple subɔla la nɔ dzadzram ɖo na dzodzo la, nyɔnuvi la fofo gagblɔ na wo be, “Zã do xoxo, miganɔ mía gbɔ zã sia hã; míagaɖu nu, miano nu, ekema miate ŋu adze mɔ ŋdi kanya.”
And the young man got up, so that he might travel with his wife and servant. And his father-in-law spoke to him again: “Consider that the daylight is declining, and it approaches toward evening. Remain with me also today, and spend the day in gladness. And tomorrow you shall set out, so that you may go to your own house.”
10 Ke ŋutsu la melɔ̃ be yeagatsi anyi zã ma me o, ale wodze mɔ heɖo ta Yebus si woyɔna hã be Yerusalem kple eƒe tedzi eve siwo wodo agba na kple eƒe ahiãvi la.
His son-in-law was not willing to agree to his words. Instead, he immediately continued on, and he arrived opposite Jebus, which by another name is called Jerusalem, leading with him two donkeys carrying burdens, and his mate.
11 Esi woɖo afi ma la, subɔla la gblɔ nɛ be, “Zã do akpa na mɔzɔzɔ eya ta na míatsi afi sia adɔ.”
And now they were near Jebus, but day was turning into night. And the servant said to his lord, “Come, I beg you, let us turn aside to the city of the Jebusites, so that we may find lodging in it.”
12 Ŋutsu la ɖo eŋu be, “Ao, míayi amedzrowo ƒe du me, du si me tɔwo menye Israelviwo o. Míayi Gibea.”
His lord responded to him: “I will not enter into the town of a foreign people, who are not of the sons of Israel. Instead, I will cross over as far as Gibeah.
13 Eyi edzi be, “Mina míadze agbagba be míaɖo Gibea alo Rama eye míatsi teƒe mawo dometɔ ɖeka adɔ.”
And when I will have arrived there, we will lodge in that place, or at least in the city of Ramah.”
14 Ale woyi mɔzɔzɔ la dzi. Ɣe nɔ to ɖom esime wova ɖo Gibea, si nye Benyamin ƒe du sue aɖe me.
Therefore, they passed by Jebus, and continuing on, they undertook the journey. But the sun went down on them when they were near Gibeah, which is of the tribe of Benjamin.
15 Woɖo be yewoatsi afi ma adɔ, ke esi ame aɖeke mekpe wo be woava dze ye gbɔ o ta la, wodro ɖe dua ƒe ablɔme.
And so they diverted to it, so that they might lodge there. And when they had entered, they were sitting in the street of the city. For no one was willing to give them hospitality.
16 Sẽe ko la, ŋutsu tsitsi aɖe tso agble gbɔ va yina aƒe me. Etso Efraim ƒe tonyigba dzi, ke fifia la ele Gibea, togbɔ be Gibea nɔ Benyamin ƒe anyigba dzi hã.
And behold, they saw an old man, returning from the field and from his work in the evening, and he was also from mount Ephraim, and he was living as a stranger in Gibeah. For the men of that region were of the sons of Benjamin.
17 Esi wòkpɔ be amedzroawo dro ɖe ablɔme la, ebia afi si wotso kple afi si woyina la wo.
And the old man, lifting up his eyes, saw the man sitting with his bundles in the street of the city. And he said to him: “Where have you come from? And where are you going?”
18 Levitɔ la ɖo eŋu be, “Míetso Betlehem le Yuda eye míeyina Efraim ƒe tonyigba dzi ƒe mlɔea nu te ɖe Silo ŋu. Ame aɖeke mekpe mí be míava dze ye gbɔ o,
He answered him: “We set out from Bethlehem of Judah, and we are traveling to our own place, which is beside mount Ephraim. From there we went to Bethlehem, and now we go to the house of God. But no one is willing to receive us under his roof.
19 togbɔ be nuɖuɖu le mía si na míaƒe tedziwo eye nuɖuɖu kple wain hã sɔ gbɔ na nye ŋutɔ kple nye ahiãvi kple subɔla la hã hafi.”
We have straw and hay as fodder for the donkeys, and we have bread and wine for the use of myself, and for your handmaid and the servant who is with me. We lack nothing except lodging.”
20 Ŋutsu tsitsi la gblɔ be, “Miva dze gbɔnye, menyo be miatsi ablɔme le afi sia o elabena mianɔ dedie o.”
And the old man responded to him: “Peace be with you. I will provide all that is necessary. Only, I beg you, do not stay in the street.”
21 Ŋutsu tsitsi la kplɔ wo yi aƒe mee, ena nuɖuɖu woƒe tedziwo. Esi woklɔ woƒe afɔwo vɔ la, woɖu nu eye wono nu.
And he led him into his house, and he gave fodder to his donkeys. And after they had washed their feet, he received them with a banquet.
22 Esi wonɔ dzidzɔ dom na wo ɖokui la, ŋutsu vlo aɖewo tso dua me va ƒo xlã aƒe la eye wonɔ ʋɔa ƒom sesĩe nɔ ɣli dom bobobo gblɔ na ŋutsu tsitsi la be, “Kplɔ ŋutsu si va dze aƒewò me la do goe ne míadɔ kplii.”
And while they were feasting, and were refreshing their bodies with food and drink after the labor of the journey, the men of that city, sons of Belial (that is, without yoke), came and surrounded the old man’s house. And they began to knock at the door, calling out to the lord of the house, and saying, “Bring out the man who entered your house, so that we may abuse him.”
23 Aƒea tɔ do ɖe wo ŋuti eye wògblɔ na wo be, “Ao, xɔ̃nyewo, migawɔ nu vɔ̃ɖi sia o. Esi ŋutsu sia nye nye amedzro ta la, migawɔ ŋukpenanu sia ɖe eŋuti o.
And the old man went out to them, and he said: “Do not choose, brothers, do not choose to do this evil. For this man has entered to my hospitality. And you must cease from this senselessness.
24 Mina maɖe asi le vinye ɖetugbi si menya ŋutsu haɖe o kple ŋutsu la ƒe ahiãvi ŋuti na mi. Makplɔ wo do goe eye miate ŋu awɔ nu sia nu kpli wo, gake migawɔ nu vɔ̃ɖi, nyɔŋu sia tɔgbi ɖe ŋutsu sia ŋu o.”
I have a virgin daughter, and this man has a mate. I will lead them out to you, so that you may debase them and may satisfy your lust. Only, I beg you, do not commit this crime against nature on the man.”
25 Ame vloawo meɖo toe o. Tete Levitɔ la he ahiãvi la do goe tso xɔ la me na wo. Ameawo wɔ fui, dɔ kplii ɖekaɖeka to zã blibo la me. Esi woɖe asi le eŋu mlɔeba le fɔŋli la,
But they were not willing to agree to his words. So the man, discerning this, led out his mate to them, and he delivered her to their sexual abuse. And when they had abused her for the entire night, they released her in the morning.
26 eyi eƒe aƒetɔ ƒe aƒe me, edze anyi ɖe aƒea ƒe mɔnu eye wòtsi afi ma va se ɖe esime ŋu ke nyuie.
But the woman, as darkness was receding, came to the door of the house, where her lord was staying, and there she fell down.
27 Esi Levitɔ la ʋu ʋɔa hena mɔdzedze la, ekpɔ eƒe ahiãvi la wòmlɔ anyigba le ʋɔtrua ŋgɔ, eye eƒe asiwo nɔ kpui dzi.
When morning came, the man arose, and he opened the door, so that he might complete the journey that he had begun. And behold, his mate was lying before the door, with her hands reaching out to the threshold.
28 Egblɔ nɛ be, “Tso mídzo,” gake meɖo nya la ŋu nɛ o. Tete ŋutsu la kɔe da ɖe eƒe tedzi dzi eye wolé aƒemɔ tsɔ.
And he, thinking that she was resting, said to her, “Get up, and let us walk.” But since she gave no response, realizing that she had died, he took her up, and he laid her on his donkey, and he returned to his house.
29 Esi wòɖo aƒe la, etsɔ hɛ fli eƒe ahiãvi la ɖe eƒe ƒunuɖeƒewo ɖe akpa wuieve me eye wòɖo akpa ɖeka ɖe Israel ƒe to ɖe sia ɖe.
And when he had arrived, he took up a sword, and he cut into pieces the dead body of his wife, with her bones, into twelve parts. And he sent the pieces into all the parts of Israel.
30 Ame sia ame si kpɔ nu sia la gblɔ be, “Womekpɔ nu sia tɔgbi kpɔ alo wòdzɔ kpɔ tso esime Israelviwo do go tso Egipte la o. Mibu eŋuti! Mide ŋugble le eŋuti! Migblɔ nu si míawɔ la na mí!”
And when each one had seen this, they were crying out together, “Never has such a thing been done in Israel, from the day that our fathers ascended from Egypt, even to the present time. Let a sentence be brought and let us decide in common what ought to be done.”
