A Levite and His Concubine

1

In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah.

2

His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there the space of four months.

3

Her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

4

His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, retained him; and he stayed with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there.

5

On the fourth day, they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.”

6

So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together: and the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.”

7

The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

8

He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines”; and they both ate.

9

When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.”

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options