Κριταί 19
1 Κατ' εκείνας δε τας ημέρας βασιλεύς δεν ήτο εν τω Ισραήλ· και ήτο Λευΐτης τις παροικών εις τα πλευρά του όρους Εφραΐμ, όστις έλαβεν εις εαυτόν γυναίκα παλλακήν εκ Βηθλεέμ Ιούδα.
There was a certain man, a Levite, living beside mount Ephraim, who took a wife from Bethlehem of Judah.
2 Και επόρνευσεν η παλλακή αυτού παρ' αυτώ, και ανεχώρησεν απ' αυτού εις τον οίκον του πατρός αυτής εις Βηθλεέμ Ιούδα, και ήτο εκεί τέσσαρας ολοκλήρους μήνας.
She left him, and she returned to the house of her father in Bethlehem. And she stayed with him for four months.
3 Και εσηκώθη ο ανήρ αυτής και υπήγε κατόπιν αυτής, διά να λαλήση ευμενώς προς αυτήν, ώστε να κάμη αυτήν να επιστρέψη· είχε δε μεθ' εαυτού τον δούλον αυτού και δύο όνους· και αυτή εισήγαγεν αυτόν εις τον οίκον του πατρός αυτής· και ότε είδεν αυτόν ο πατήρ της νέας, εχάρη εις την έντευξιν αυτού.
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 Και εκράτησεν αυτόν ο πενθερός αυτού, ο πατήρ της νέας· και εκάθισε μετ' αυτού τρεις ημέρας· και έφαγον και έπιον και διενυκτέρευσαν εκεί.
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 Και την τετάρτην ημέραν, ότε ηγέρθησαν το πρωΐ, εσηκώθη να αναχωρήση· και είπεν ο πατήρ της νέας προς τον γαμβρόν αυτού, Στήριξον την καρδίαν σου με ολίγον άρτον και μετά ταύτα θέλετε υπάγει.
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 Και εκάθισαν και έφαγον και έπιον οι δύο ομού· και είπεν ο πατήρ της νέας προς τον άνδρα, Ευαρεστήθητι, παρακαλώ, και διανυκτέρευσον, και ας ευφρανθή η καρδία σου.
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 Και ότε ο άνθρωπος εσηκώθη να αναχωρήση, ο πενθερός αυτού εβίασεν αυτόν· όθεν έμεινε και διενυκτέρευσεν εκεί.
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 Και ηγέρθη το πρωΐ την πέμπτην ημέραν διά να αναχωρήση· και είπεν ο πατήρ της νέας, Στήριξον, παρακαλώ, την καρδίαν σου. Και έμειναν εωσού έκλινεν η ημέρα, και συνέφαγον αμφότεροι.
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 Και ότε ο άνθρωπος εσηκώθη να αναχωρήση, αυτός και η παλλακή αυτού και ο δούλος αυτού, είπε προς αυτόν ο πενθερός αυτού, ο πατήρ της νέας, Ιδού, τώρα η ημέρα κλίνει προς εσπέραν· διανυκτερεύσατε, παρακαλώ· ιδού η ημέρα υπάγει να τελειώση· διανυκτέρευσον ενταύθα, και ας ευφρανθή η καρδία σου· και αύριον σηκόνεσθε το πρωΐ διά την οδοιπορίαν σας και ύπαγε εις την κατοικίαν σου.
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 Ο άνθρωπος όμως δεν ηθέλησε να διανυκτερεύση· αλλ' εσηκώθη και ανεχώρησε και ήλθεν έως απέναντι της Ιεβούς, ήτις είναι η Ιερουσαλήμ· και είχε μεθ' εαυτού δύο όνους σαμαρωμένους, και η παλλακή αυτού ήτο μετ' αυτού.
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 Και ότε επλησίασαν εις την Ιεβούς, η ημέρα ήτο πολύ προχωρημένη· και είπεν ο δούλος προς τον κύριον αυτού, Ελθέ, παρακαλώ, και ας στρέψωμεν προς την πόλιν ταύτην των Ιεβουσαίων, και ας διανυκτερεύσωμεν εν αυτή.
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 Και είπεν ο κύριος αυτού προς αυτόν, Δεν θέλομεν στρέψει προς πόλιν αλλοτρίων, ήτις δεν είναι εκ των υιών Ισραήλ· αλλά θέλομεν περάσει έως Γαβαά.
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 Και είπε προς τον δούλον αυτού, Ελθέ, και ας πλησιάσωμεν εις ένα εκ των τόπων τούτων και ας διανυκτερεύσωμεν εν Γαβαά ή εν Ραμά.
And when I will have arrived there, we will lodge in that place, or at least in the city of Ramah.”
14 Και διέβησαν και υπήγαν· και έδυσεν επ' αυτούς ο ήλιος πλησίον της Γαβαά, ήτις είναι του Βενιαμίν.
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 Και εστράφησαν εκεί, διά να εισέλθωσι να καταλύσωσιν εν Γαβαά· και ότε εισήλθεν, εκάθισεν εν τη πλατεία της πόλεως· και δεν ήτο άνθρωπος να παραλάβη αυτούς εις την οικίαν αυτού διά να διανυκτερεύσωσι.
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 Και ιδού, άνθρωπος γέρων ήρχετο από του έργου αυτού εκ του αγρού το εσπέρας· και ο άνθρωπος ήτο εκ του όρους Εφραΐμ, παρώκει δε εν Γαβαά· οι δε άνθρωποι του τόπου ήσαν Βενιαμίται.
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 Και υψώσας τους οφθαλμούς αυτού, είδε τον άνθρωπον τον οδοιπόρον εν τη πλατεία της πόλεως· και είπεν ο άνθρωπος ο γέρων, Που υπάγεις; και πόθεν έρχεσαι;
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 Ο δε είπε προς αυτόν, Ημείς διαβαίνομεν εκ Βηθλεέμ Ιούδα έως των πλευρών του όρους Εφραΐμ· εκείθεν είμαι εγώ· και υπήγα έως Βηθλεέμ Ιούδα, και τώρα υπάγω εις τον οίκον του Κυρίου· και δεν είναι ουδείς να με παραλάβη εις την οικίαν αυτού·
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 έχομεν δε άχυρα και τροφήν διά τους όνους ημών, έχομεν και προσέτι άρτον και οίνον δι' εμέ και διά την δούλην σου και διά τον νέον, όστις είναι μετά των δούλων σου· δεν έχομεν έλλειψιν ουδενός πράγματος.
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 Και είπεν ο άνθρωπος ο γέρων, Ειρήνη εις σέ· και παν ό, τι χρειάζεσαι εγώ φροντίζω· μόνον εν τη πλατεία μη διανυκτερεύσης.
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 Και εισήγαγεν αυτόν εις τον οίκον αυτού και έδωκε τροφήν εις τους όνους· και έπλυναν τους πόδας αυτών, και έφαγον και έπιον.
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 Ενώ ούτοι εύφραινον τας καρδίας αυτών, ιδού, οι άνδρες της πόλεως, άνθρωποι παράνομοι περιεκύκλωσαν την οικίαν, κρούοντες εις την θύραν· και είπον προς τον άνθρωπον τον κύριον της οικίας τον γέροντα, λέγοντες, Έκβαλε τον άνθρωπον, τον ελθόντα εις την οικίαν σου, διά να γνωρίσωμεν αυτόν.
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 Και εξήλθε προς αυτούς ο άνθρωπος, ο κύριος της οικίας, και είπε προς αυτούς, Μη, αδελφοί μου, παρακαλώ, μη πράξητε τούτο το κακόν· αφού ο άνθρωπος ούτος εισήλθεν εις την οικίαν μου, μη πράξητε τοιαύτην αφροσύνην·
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 ιδού, η θυγάτηρ μου η παρθένος και η παλλακή αυτού· τώρα θέλω φέρει αυτάς έξω, και ταπεινώσατε αυτάς και κάμετε εις αυτάς ό, τι φανή αρεστόν εις τους οφθαλμούς σας· αλλ' εις τον άνθρωπον τούτον μη πράξητε έργον τοιαύτης αφροσύνης.
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 Οι άνδρες όμως δεν ηθέλησαν να ακούσωσιν αυτόν· και έλαβεν ο άνθρωπος την παλλακήν αυτού και έφερεν αυτήν έξω προς αυτούς· και εγνώρισαν αυτήν και ύβρισαν εις αυτήν όλην την νύκτα έως πρωΐ· και καθώς εφάνη η αυγή, απέλυσαν αυτήν.
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 Και ήλθεν η γυνή προς το χάραγμα της ημέρας και έπεσε παρά την θύραν της οικίας του ανθρώπου, όπου ήτο ο κύριος αυτής, εωσού έφεγξε.
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 Και εσηκώθη ο κύριος αυτής το πρωΐ και ήνοιξε τας θύρας της οικίας και εξήλθε διά να υπάγη εις την οδόν αυτού· και ιδού, η γυνή η παλλακή αυτού πεσμένη εις την θύραν της οικίας και αι χείρες αυτής επί του κατωφλίου.
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 Και είπε προς αυτήν, Σηκώθητι και ας υπάγωμεν. Αλλά δεν απεκρίθη. Τότε ανέλαβεν αυτήν επί τον όνον ο άνθρωπος, και εσηκώθη και υπήγεν εις τον τόπον αυτού.
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 Και αφού ήλθεν εις την οικίαν αυτού, έλαβε την μάχαιραν και πιάσας την παλλακήν αυτού, διεμέλισεν αυτήν μετά των οστέων αυτής εις δώδεκα μέρη, και έστειλεν αυτά εις πάντα τα όρια του Ισραήλ.
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 Και πάντες όσοι έβλεπον, έλεγον, Δεν έγεινεν ουδέ εφάνη τοιούτον πράγμα, αφ' ης ημέρας οι υιοί Ισραήλ ανέβησαν εκ γης Αιγύπτου, έως της ημέρας ταύτης· σκέφθητε περί τούτου, συμβουλεύθητε και λαλήσατε.
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.”
