1. Kwathi ngaloo mihla, kungekho kumkani kwaSirayeli, kwabakho indoda engumLevi ephambukele emathambekeni akwaEfrayim, yazeka umfazi olishweshwe eBhetelehem yakwaYuda.
2. Lahenyuza likuyo ishweshwe layo, lemka kuyo, laya endlwini yoyise walo eBhetelehem yakwaYuda, laba khona imihla eziinyanga eziné.
3. Yesuka indoda yalo yaliphuthuma, ukuba ithethe kakuhle nalo ilibuyise, inomfana namaesile amabini. Layingenisa endlwini yoyise walo. Wayibona uyise wentombazana leyo, wakuvuyela ukuhlangana nayo.
4. Wayigcina uyise womfazi, uyise wentombazana leyo; yahlala naye imihla yamithathu, badla, basela, balala khona.
5. Kwathi ngomhla wesiné, bavuka kusasa; yesuka yona ukuba imke. Wathi uyise wentombazana kumyeni wayo, Khawuxhase intliziyo yakho ngeqhekeza lesonka, nandule ukuhamba.
6. Bahlala ke badla bobabini ndawonye, basela. Wathi uyise wentombazana kwindoda, Makhe kukholeke kuwe, ulale, ichwayithe intliziyo yakho.
7. Yesuka indoda leyo ukuba ihambe; wayijoka uyise womkayo, yabuya yalala khona.
8. Yavuka kusasa ngomhla wesihlanu ukuba ihambe. Wathi uyise wentombazana, Khawuxhase intliziyo yakho, nizilazile ide ijike imini; badla ke bobabini.