Giudici 21

NOVA VULGATA	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Iuraverunt autem filii Israel in Maspha et dixerunt: “ Nullus nostrum dabit filiis Beniamin de filiabus suis uxorem ”.	1 The sons of Israel had also taken an oath at Mizpah, and they said, “None of us shall give his daughters as a wife to the sons of Benjamin.”
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 went to the house of God at Shiloh. And sitting in his sight until evening, they lifted up their voice, and they began to weep, with a great wailing, saying,
3 “ Quare, Domine, Deus Israel, factum est hoc in populo tuo, ut hodie una tribus auferretur de Israel? ”.	3 “Why, O Lord, God of Israel, has this evil happened among your people, so that this day one tribe would be taken away from us?”
4 Altera autem die diluculo consurgentes exstruxerunt altare obtuleruntque ibi holocausta et pacificas victimas	4 Then, rising at first light on the next day, they built an altar. And they offered holocausts and victims of peace offerings there, 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, out of all the tribes of Israel, did not ascend with the army of the Lord?” For they had bound themselves with a great oath, when they were at Mizpah, that whoever was not present would be slain.
6 Ductique paenitentia filii Israel super fratre suo Beniamin coeperunt dicere: “ Ablata est hodie una tribus de Israel.	6 And the sons of Israel, having been led to repentance over their brother Benjamin, began to say: “One tribe has been 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 From where shall they receive wives? For we have all sworn in common that we will not 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 For this reason, they said, “Who is there, out of all the tribes of Israel, that did not ascend to the Lord at Mizpah?” And behold, the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead were found not to have been among that army.
9 et, cum populus recenseretur, nullus ex eis repertus est.	9 (Likewise, in the time when they had been at Shiloh, not one of them was found to be 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 And so they sent ten thousand very robust men, and they instructed them, saying, “Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead with the edge of the sword, including their wives and little ones.”
11 Et hoc erit, quod observare debetis: Omne generis masculini et mulieres, quae cognoverunt viros, interficite; virgines autem reservate ”.	11 And this shall be what you ought to do: “Everyone of the male gender, as well as all the women who have known men, shall be put to death. But the virgins you shall reserve.”
12 Inventaeque sunt de Iabes Galaad quadringentae virgines, quae nescierunt viri torum, et adduxerunt eas in castra in Silo in terra Chanaan.	12 And four hundred virgins, who had not known the bed of a man, were found from Jabesh-Gilead. And they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan.
13 Misitque coetus nuntios ad filios Beniamin, qui erant in petra Remmon, et dederunt eis pacem.	13 And they sent messengers to the sons of Benjamin, who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they instructed them, so that they would 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 sons of Benjamin went, at that time, and wives were given to them from the daughters of Jabesh-Gilead. But others were not found, whom they might give in a similar manner.
15 Populusque valde doluit de Beniamin, quia fecerat Dominus confractionem in tribubus Israel.	15 And all of Israel was very saddened, and they did penance for destroying one tribe out of Israel.
16 Dixeruntque seniores coetus: “ Quid faciemus reliquis, qui non acceperunt uxores? Omnes in Beniamin feminae conciderunt ”.	16 And those greater by birth said: “What shall we do with the remainder, those who have not received wives? For all the females of Benjamin have been cut down,
17 Et dixerunt: “ Possessio eorum, qui effugerunt, erit Beniamin, ne una tribus deleatur ex Israel.	17 and we must take great care, and make provision with a very great diligence, so that one tribe may not be wiped away from Israel.
18 Filias autem nostras eis dare non possumus, constricti hoc iuramento: “Maledictus, qui dederit de filiabus suis uxorem Beniamin!” ”.	18 As for our own daughters, we are not able to give them, being bound by an oath and a curse, when we said, ‘Accursed is he who will give any of his daughters to Benjamin as a 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 And they took counsel, and they said, “Behold, there is a yearly solemnity of the Lord at Shiloh, which is situated to the north of the city of Bethel, and on the eastern side of the way that one takes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of the town of Lebonah.”
20 Praeceperuntque filiis Beniamin atque dixerunt: “Ite et latitate in vineis;	20 And they instructed the sons of Benjamin, and they said: “Go, and hide 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 will have seen daughters of Shiloh being led out to dance, according to custom, go forth suddenly from the vineyards, and let each one seize one wife from among them, and travel 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 brothers arrive, and they begin to complain against you and to argue, we will say to them: ‘Take pity on them. For they have not seized them by right of war or conquest. Instead, begging to receive them, you did not give them, and so the sin was 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 so the sons of Benjamin did just as they had been ordered. And according to their number, they seized for themselves one wife each, out of those who were led out dancing. And they went into their own possession, and they built up their cities, and they lived in them.
24 Filii quoque Israel reversi sunt inde illo tempore unusquisque ad tribum et familiam suam in possessionem suam.	24 The sons of Israel also returned, according to their tribes and families, to their tents. In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.
25 In diebus illis non erat rex in Israel, sed unusquisque, quod sibi rectum videbatur, hoc faciebat.