1 Ngethuba eliphambi kokuba uSirayeli abe nokumkani kwakukho mLevi uthile owayehlala kude kweleentaba kwaEfrayim. Lo mfo wathatha intombi yaseBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda, wahlalisana nayo.
2 Kambe ke yambambela, yaza yagoduka yaya eBhetelehem kwelakwaJuda, yahlala khona iinyanga zane.
3 Lo mLevi ke wayilanda ngezicengo, khon' ukuze babuyelane. Wayehamba nesicaka sakhe kunye needonki ezimbini. Le ntombi ke yamazisa kowayo umLevi lowo, waza ke uyise akumbona wamamkela ngezishushu.
4 Uyise wentombi leyo wamnyanzelisa ukuba akhe ahlale umLevi lowo, waza ke wahlala iintsuku zantathu, besitya besela kunye.
5 Ngentsasa yosuku lwesine bavuka sebelungele ukuhamba. Ke uyise wentombi wathetha nomkwenyana, wathi: “Qala utye, uhlaziyeke, uze ke uhambe kamva.”
6 Bahlala ke umntu nomkhwenyana, batya basela. Usontombi lowo ke waphinda wacela umkhwenyana wathi: “Sowulala apha ngokuhlwanje, uzonwabise.”