基列人耶弗他是个大能的勇士，是妓女的儿子。耶弗他是基列所生的。
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
耶弗他回答基列的长老说，从前你们不是恨我，赶逐我出离父家吗。现在你们遭遇急难为何到我这里来呢。
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
基列的长老回答耶弗他说，现在我们到你这里来，是要你同我们去，与亚扪人争战。你可以作基列一切居民的领袖。
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
耶弗他对基列的长老说，你们叫我回去，与亚扪人争战，耶和华把他交给我，我可以作你们的领袖吗。
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
于是耶弗他同基列的长老回去，百姓就立耶弗他作领袖，作元帅。耶弗他在米斯巴将自己的一切话陈明在耶和华面前。
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.
耶弗他打发使者去见亚扪人的王，说，你与我有什么相干，竟来到我国中攻打我呢。
And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?
亚扪人的王回答耶弗他的使者说，因为以色列人从埃及上来的时候占据我的地，从亚嫩河到雅博河，直到约旦河。现在你要好好地将这地归还吧。
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.
耶弗他又打发使者去见亚扪人的王，
And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
就打发使者去见以东王，说，求你容我从你的地经过。以东王却不应允。又照样打发使者去见摩押王，他也不允准。以色列人就住在加低斯。
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
耶和华以色列的神在他百姓以色列面前赶出亚摩利人，你竟要得他们的地吗。
So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?