( Word soon reached the land of Benjamin that the other tribes had gone up to Mizpah.) The Israelites then asked how this terrible crime had happened.

以色列人上到米斯巴，便雅悯人都听见了。以色列人说：“请你将这件恶事的情由对我们说明。”

便雅悯人听见以色列人上了米斯巴。以色列人说：“请说，这恶事是怎么发生的呢？”

便雅悯人听见以色列人上了米斯巴。以色列人说：“请说，这恶事是怎么发生的呢？”

便雅悯人也听见以色列人聚集在米斯巴的消息。以色列人问那个利未人：“请告诉我们，这件邪恶的事是怎么发生的？”

（以色列人上到米斯巴来，便雅悯人听见了。）以色列人说：“这件恶事是怎样发生的？你们说吧。”

以色列人上到米斯巴，便雅憫人都聽見了。以色列人說：「請你將這件惡事的情由對我們說明。」

便雅憫人聽見以色列人上了米斯巴。以色列人說：「請說，這惡事是怎麼發生的呢？」

便雅憫人聽見以色列人上了米斯巴。以色列人說：「請說，這惡事是怎麼發生的呢？」

便雅憫人也聽見以色列人聚集在米斯巴的消息。以色列人問那個利未人：「請告訴我們，這件邪惡的事是怎麼發生的。」

（以色列人上到米斯巴來，便雅憫人聽見了。）以色列人說：“這件惡事是怎樣發生的？你們說吧。”

以色列人上米斯巴、便雅憫人都聽見了。）以色列人說：『這件壞事的經過怎麼樣、請說說明白。』

以色列人至米斯巴、為便雅憫人所聞、以色列人問曰、此惡之由、請以告我、

其事為便雅憫族所聞。以色列族詢斯惡之原委。

以色列人上至米斯巴、便雅憫人聞之、以色列人曰、當以此惡事之情由告我、

( The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said,“ Tell us how this awful thing happened.”

The tribe of Benjamin heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. The Israelites said,“ Tell us how this awful thing happened.”

( Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said,“ Tell us, how did this evil happen?”

The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. The Israelites asked,“ Tell us, how did this evil act happen?”

( Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said,“ Tell us, how did this wickedness take place?”

( Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the children of Israel said,“ Tell us, how did this wicked deed happen?”

( Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?

The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. The Israelites asked,“ Tell us, how did this outrage occur?”

( Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell[ us], how was this wickedness?

The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. Then the Israelites said,“ Explain how this wicked thing happened!”

( Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said,“ Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?”

While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man,“ Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.”The old man stepped outside to talk to them.“ No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful.Here, take my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don’t do such a shameful thing to this man.”But they wouldn’t listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go.At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light.When her husband opened the door to leave, there lay his concubine with her hands on the threshold.

“ Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

“ When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.