Giudici 21

NOVA VULGATA	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Iuraverunt autem filii Israel in Maspha et dixerunt: “ Nullus nostrum dabit filiis Beniamin de filiabus suis uxorem ”.	1 Now the children of Israel had also sworn in Maspha, saying: None of us shall give of his daughters to the children of Benjamin to wife.
2 Venitque populus in Bethel, et in conspectu Dei sedentes usque ad vesperam levaverunt vocem et magno ululatu coeperunt flere dicentes:	2 And they all came to the house of God in Silo, and abiding before him till the evening, lifted up their voices, and began to lament and weep, saying:
3 “ Quare, Domine, Deus Israel, factum est hoc in populo tuo, ut hodie una tribus auferretur de Israel? ”.	3 O Lord God of Israel, why is so great an evil come to pass in thy people, that this day one tribe should be taken away from among us?
4 Altera autem die diluculo consurgentes exstruxerunt altare obtuleruntque ibi holocausta et pacificas victimas	4 And rising early the next day, they built an altar: and offered there holocausts, and victims of peace, and they said:
5 et dixerunt: “ Quis non ascendit in congregationem ad Dominum de universis tribubus Israel? ”. Grandi enim se iuramento constrinxerant interfici eos, qui non ascendissent ad Dominum in Maspha.	5 Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the army of the Lord? for they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were in Maspha, that whosoever were wanting should be slain.
6 Ductique paenitentia filii Israel super fratre suo Beniamin coeperunt dicere: “ Ablata est hodie una tribus de Israel.	6 And the children of Israel being moved with repentance for their brother Benjamin, began to say: One tribe is taken away from Israel.
7 Quid faciemus, ut, qui remanserunt, uxores accipiant? Omnes enim in commune iuravimus per Dominum non daturos nos his filias nostras ”.	7 Whence shall they take wives? For we have all in general sworn, not to give our daughters to them.
8 Idcirco dixerunt: “ Quis est de universis tribubus Israel, qui non ascendit ad Dominum in Maspha? ”. Et ecce nemo de Iabes Galaad in castra venerat ad congregationem,	8 Therefore they said: Who is thereof all the tribes of Israel, that came not up to the Lord to Maspha. And behold the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad were found not to have been in that army.
9 et, cum populus recenseretur, nullus ex eis repertus est.	9 (At that time also when they were in Silo, no one of them was found there.)
10 Misit itaque coetus decem milia viros robustissimos et praeceperunt eis: “ Ite et percutite habitatores Iabes Galaad in ore gladii tam uxores quam parvulos eorum.	10 So they sent ten thousand of the most valiant men, and commanded them, saying: Go and put the inhabitants of Jabes Galaad to the sword, with their wives and their children.
11 Et hoc erit, quod observare debetis: Omne generis masculini et mulieres, quae cognoverunt viros, interficite; virgines autem reservate ”.	11 And this is what you shall observe: Every male, and all women that have known men, you shall kill, but the virgins you shall save.
12 Inventaeque sunt de Iabes Galaad quadringentae virgines, quae nescierunt viri torum, et adduxerunt eas in castra in Silo in terra Chanaan.	12 And there were found of Jabes Galaad four hundred virgins, that had not known the bed of a man, and they brought them to the camp Silo, into the land of Chanaan.
13 Misitque coetus nuntios ad filios Beniamin, qui erant in petra Remmon, et dederunt eis pacem.	13 And they sent messengers to the children of Benjamin, that were in the rock Remmon, and commanded them to receive them in peace.
14 Veneruntque filii Beniamin in illo tempore, et datae sunt eis uxores de filiabus Iabes Galaad; alias autem non reppererunt, quas simili modo traderent.	14 And the children of Benjamin came at that time, and wives were given them of the daughters of Jabes Galaad: but they found no others, whom they might give in like manner.
15 Populusque valde doluit de Beniamin, quia fecerat Dominus confractionem in tribubus Israel.	15 And all Israel was very sorry, and repented for the destroying of one tribe out of Israel.
16 Dixeruntque seniores coetus: “ Quid faciemus reliquis, qui non acceperunt uxores? Omnes in Beniamin feminae conciderunt ”.	16 And the ancients said: What shall we do with the rest, that have not received wives? for all the women in Benjamin are dead.
17 Et dixerunt: “ Possessio eorum, qui effugerunt, erit Beniamin, ne una tribus deleatur ex Israel.	17 And we must use all care, and provide with great diligence, that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18 Filias autem nostras eis dare non possumus, constricti hoc iuramento: “Maledictus, qui dederit de filiabus suis uxorem Beniamin!” ”.	18 For as to our own daughters we cannot give them, being bound with an oath and a curse, whereby we said: Cursed be he that shall give Benjamin any of his daughters to wife.
19 Ceperuntque consilium atque dixerunt: “ Ecce sollemnitas Domini est in Silo anniversaria, quae sita est ad septentrionem urbis Bethel et ad orientalem plagam viae, quae de Bethel tendit ad Sichimam et ad meridiem oppidi Lebona ”.	19 So they took counsel, and said: Behold there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord in Silo, which is situate on the north of the city of Bethel, and on the east side of the way, that goeth from Bethel to Sichem, and on the south of the town of Lebona.
20 Praeceperuntque filiis Beniamin atque dixerunt: “Ite et latitate in vineis;	20 And they commanded the children of Benjamin, and said: Go, and lie hid in the vineyards,
21 cumque videritis filias Silo ad ducendos choros ex more procedere, exite repente de vineis et rapite ex eis singuli uxores singulas et pergite in terram Beniamin ”.	21 And when you shall see the daughters of Silo come out, as the custom is, to dance, come ye on a sudden out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife among them, and go into the land of Benjamin.
22 Cumque venerint patres earum ac fratres et apud nos queri coeperint, dicemus eis: “ Miseremini nostri et eorum; non enim acceperunt unusquisque uxorem in bello, et vos, si dedissetis eis, deliquissetis ”.	22 And when their fathers and their brethren shall come, and shall begin to complain against you, and to chide, we will say to them: Have pity on them for they took them not away as by the right of war or conquest, but when they asked to have them, you gave them not, and the fault was committed on your part.
23 Feceruntque filii Beniamin, ut sibi fuerat imperatum, et iuxta numerum suum rapuerunt sibi de his, quae ducebant choros, uxores singulas; abieruntque in possessionem suam aedificantes urbes et habitantes in eis.	23 And the children of Benjamin did, as they had been commanded: and according to their number, they carried off for themselves every man his wife of them that were dancing: and they went into their possession and built up their cities, and dwelt in them.
24 Filii quoque Israel reversi sunt inde illo tempore unusquisque ad tribum et familiam suam in possessionem suam.	24 The children of Israel also returned by their tribes, and families, to their dwellings. In those days there was no king in Israel: but every one did that which seemed right to himself.
25 In diebus illis non erat rex in Israel, sed unusquisque, quod sibi rectum videbatur, hoc faciebat.