1. Kwathi ngalezo zinsuku kungekho inkosi kwa-Israyeli, kwakukhona umLevi othile owayegogobele ohlangothini olungasemuva kwezintaba zakwa-Efrayimi, owazithathela isancinza eBetlehema Juda.
2. Isancinza sakhe samgilela ubufebe, sasuka kuye, saya endlini kayise eBetlehema Juda, sahlala khona isikhathi esiyizinyanga ezine.
3. Umyeni waso wasuka, wasilandela ukuba akhulume kuyo inhliziyo yaso, asibuyise, enenceku yakhe nezimbongolo ezimbili; samngenisa endlini kayise; lapho uyise wentombi embona, wathokoza ukuhlangana naye.
4. Umukhwe wakhe, uyise wentombi, wambambezela, wahlala kuye izinsuku ezintathu; badla, baphuza, bahlala khona.
5. Kwathi ngosuku lwesine bavuka ekuseni kakhulu, wasuka ukuba ahambe; uyise wentombi wathi kumkhwenyana wakhe: “Hlumelela inhliziyo yakho ngocezu lwesinkwa, andukuba nihambe.”
6. Bahlala phansi, badla, baphuza bobabili kanyekanye; uyise wentombi wathi kuyo indoda: “Ake udele, ulale ubusuku, ithokoze inhliziyo yakho.”
7. Kepha lowo muntu wasukuma nokho ukuba ahambe; wayesemncengisisa umukhwe wakhe, wabuye walala khona.
8. Wavuka ekuseni kakhulu ngosuku lwesihlanu ukuba ahambe; uyise wentombi wathi: “Ake uhlumelele inhliziyo yakho, nihlale lize lithambame ilanga.” Badla-ke bobabili.
9. Lapho umuntu esesukuma ukuba ahambe, yena nesancinza sakhe nenceku yakhe, umukhwe wakhe, uyise wentombi, wathi kuye: “Bheka, ilanga seliyathambama, sekuzakuhlwa; ake uhlale ubusuku bonke; yebo, ilanga seliyakuphela; hlala lapha ukuba inhliziyo yakho ithokoze, nivuke kusasa ekuseni kakhulu, nihambe indlela yenu ukuba ufike etendeni lakho.”
10. Kepha akavumanga lowo muntu ukuhlala lobo busuku, kodwa wavuka wahamba, wafika malungana neJebusi eliyiJerusalema; kwakukhona naye izimbongolo ezimbili ziboshelwe izihlalo; nesancinza sakhe sasinaye.
11. SebengaseJebusi, ilanga lase lidlulile kakhulu; inceku yathi enkosini yayo: “Ake uze, siphambukele kulo muzi wamaJebusi, sihlale kuwo.”