Livre des Juges 19

BIBLES DES PEUPLES	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 En ce temps-là, il n’y avait pas de roi en Israël. Un Lévite qui résidait à l’extrémité de la montagne d’Éphraïm, prit comme concubine une femme de Bethléem en Juda.	1 There was a certain man, a Levite, living beside mount Ephraim, who took a wife from Bethlehem of Judah.
2 Sa concubine lui fut infidèle et le quitta pour retourner dans la maison de son père, à Bethléem en Juda, où elle resta environ quatre mois.	2 She left him, and she returned to the house of her father in Bethlehem. And she stayed with him for four months.
3 Son mari se mit en route pour aller la rejoindre, pour parler à son cœur et la ramener avec lui; il avait avec lui son serviteur et deux ânes. Elle le fit entrer dans la maison de son père et, dès que le père de la jeune femme l’aperçut, il vint tout heureux à sa rencontre.	3 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 Son beau-père, père de la jeune femme, le retint et il resta là trois jours avec lui. Ils mangèrent, ils burent et passèrent la nuit en ce lieu.	4 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 quatrième jour, ils se levèrent de bonne heure et le Lévite se prépara pour partir. Mais le père de la jeune femme dit à son gendre: “Prends des forces, mange un morceau de pain; ensuite vous partirez.”	5 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 Ils s’assirent donc, ils mangèrent et burent tous les deux. Alors le père de la jeune femme dit à son mari: “Passe encore une nuit, prends un peu de bon temps!”	6 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 L’homme allait se lever pour partir, mais son beau-père insista tellement qu’il revint et passa encore la nuit en cet endroit.	7 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 Le cinquième jour, quand il se leva de bon matin pour se mettre en route, le père de la jeune femme lui dit: “Reprends donc des forces, attends la tombée du jour.” Ils mangèrent tous les deux.	8 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 Comme le mari se levait pour partir avec sa concubine et son serviteur, son beau-père, le père de la jeune femme lui dit: “Regarde! Le jour baisse, le soir ne tardera pas, passez donc ici la nuit. Prends un peu de bon temps; demain vous vous lèverez de bonne heure et vous vous mettrez en route pour rejoindre ta tente.”	9 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 Mais le mari ne voulut pas passer une nuit de plus. Il se mit en route avec ses deux ânes chargés et sa concubine en direction de Jébus (c’est Jérusalem).	10 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 Lorsqu’ils furent près de Jébus, le jour avait beaucoup baissé et le serviteur dit à son maître: “Tu devrais quitter la route et entrer dans cette ville des Jébusites, nous y passerons la nuit.”	11 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 Mais son maître lui répondit: “Nous n’entrerons pas dans une ville étrangère: ces gens-là ne sont pas des Israélites. Allons plutôt jusqu’à Guibéa.”	12 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 Il ajouta: “Dépêchons-nous d’atteindre l’une de ces villes, Guibéa ou Rama, pour y passer la nuit.”	13 And when I will have arrived there, we will lodge in that place, or at least in the city of Ramah.”
14 Ils passèrent donc, continuèrent leur route et arrivèrent près de Guibéa de Benjamin lorsque le soleil se couchait.	14 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 Quittant la route, ils entrèrent dans Guibéa pour y passer la nuit. Le Lévite alla s’asseoir sur la place, mais personne ne les invita à passer la nuit dans sa maison.	15 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 Un homme âgé rentrait en fin de journée de son travail aux champs. Cet homme était de la montagne d’Éphraïm, il résidait à Guibéa où les habitants étaient de la tribu de Benjamin.	16 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 Levant les yeux, il aperçut l’homme de passage assis sur la place de la ville. Le vieillard dit au Lévite: “Où vas-tu et d’où viens-tu?”	17 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 Il répondit: “Nous venons de Bethléem en Juda et nous allons vers les confins de la montagne d’Éphraïm, car je suis de là-bas. J’étais allé jusqu’à Bethléem en Juda et je retourne chez moi, mais personne ne m’a reçu dans sa maison.	18 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 J’ai pourtant de la paille et du fourrage pour nos ânes, du pain et du vin pour moi, pour ma femme et pour mon serviteur. Nous n’avons besoin de rien.”	19 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 L’homme âgé lui dit alors: “Ne t’inquiète pas, je te donnerai ce dont tu as besoin, mais ne passe pas la nuit sur la place.”	20 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 Il le fit entrer dans sa maison et donna du fourrage aux ânes pendant que les voyageurs se lavaient les pieds. Ils mangèrent et burent.	21 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 Tout semblait aller bien lorsque les hommes de la ville, de vrais voyous, entourèrent la maison et frappèrent à la porte. Ils dirent au vieillard, au maître de maison: “Fais sortir cet homme qui est venu chez toi, pour que nous abusions de lui.”	22 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 Le maître de maison sortit pour leur parler; il leur dit: “Non, mes frères, je vous en prie! Ne faites pas de mal. Vous voyez que cet homme est maintenant sous mon toit, ne commettez pas une chose pareille.	23 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 J’ai une fille qui est encore vierge, et il y a aussi sa concubine. Je vous les amènerai dehors, vous pourrez les violer et les traiter comme bon vous semblera, mais ne commettez pas une chose aussi ignoble envers cet homme.”	24 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 Les autres refusèrent de l’écouter. Alors le Lévite prit sa concubine et la leur amena dehors. Ils la violèrent et abusèrent d’elle toute la nuit jusqu’au petit matin; à l’aube ils la laissèrent aller.	25 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 La femme revint au petit matin et s’écroula devant la porte de la maison où logeait son mari. Elle resta là jusqu’au lever du jour.	26 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 Alors son mari se leva, ouvrit la porte de la maison et sortit pour reprendre sa route. Sa concubine était étendue devant la porte de la maison, les mains sur le seuil.	27 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 Il lui dit: “Lève-toi et partons.” Mais il n’y eut pas de réponse. L’homme alors la chargea sur son âne et se mit en route pour retourner chez lui.	28 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 Rentré chez lui, il prit un couteau, saisit le corps de sa concubine et la découpa, os par os, en douze morceaux qu’il envoya à travers tout le territoire d’Israël. Il avait donné cet ordre aux hommes qu’il envoyait: “Vous demanderez partout en Israël: A-t-on jamais vu cela depuis que les Israélites sont montés du pays d’Égypte jusqu’à ce jour? Réfléchissez, tenez conseil et donnez votre avis.”	29 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 Tous ceux qui voyaient cela disaient: “On n’a jamais vu une chose pareille depuis que les fils d’Israël sont montés du pays d’Égypte jusqu’à ce jour.”	30 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.”