Thutan Vaihom Ho 17
1 Phat khatnin Micah kiti pasal khat ana ummin amachu Ephraim thinglhang gamsunga chenga ahi.
There was a man named Micah who lived in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.
2 Nikhat hi aman anu kommah hitin anaseije, “Mikhat nin nasum dangka sankhat le jakhat anaguh jeh'in nangin nana samsetai ti kanajan ahi. Ven nasum gu’achu keima kahi chuleh tun kakomma aumme” ati. Anun adonbutnin, “Nangle nang nakiphon ahin Pathenin phatthei naboh hen” ati.
One day he said to his mother, “I heard you curse whoever stole (1,100 pieces/28 pounds/13 kg.) of silver from your house. I am the one who took the silver, and I still have it.” His mother replied, “My son, I pray that Yahweh will bless you [for admitting that you took it].”
3 Aman sumchu anu komma apelutnin ahileh anun hitin aseije “Tun keiman hiche sapsetna chu kachapa chunga achuhlouna dingin keimatah in hiche sumchu Pakai kommah kakatdoh tai. Hichehi kilhajolla milim doikhat semna kimang ding ahi” ati.
Micah gave all the silver back to his mother. Then she said [to herself], “I will give [some of] this silver to Yahweh.” And she said to her son, “My son, I want you to make an idol and a statue [from this silver]. So I will give [some of] this silver back to you [for making these things].”
4 Hitia chu aman sumchu anu khutna apehlut chun amanun dangka jani chu alan dangka khengpa kommah apelut tan ahileh aman milim doikhat asemdoh tan ahi. Chuleh hichechu Micah insungah akikoitan ahi.
So when he gave all the silver to his mother, she took (200 pieces/about 5 pounds/1.6 kg.) of it to a (silversmith/man who made things from silver). With the silver that man made an idol and a statue, [and gave them to Micah]. Micah put them in his house.
5 Micah hin hiche doi koina dinga hin doiphung khat atung doh in chuleh hiche doihou nading ompho jong asem’in insunga ding phabepjong asemdoh in ahi. Hiche jouchun achate lah a khat chu amachanga din thempun apansah in ahi.
He had in his house a special (shrine/place for putting sacred things). He made a sacred vest and some small idols [and put them in this shrine along with the big idol and the statue]. Then Micah chose one of his sons to become his priest.
6 Hichelai phatsung chun Israelten leng ananei pouvin mipiho chun amaho deidan dannin ana kimang chaovin ahi.
At that time, the Israeli people did not have a king. So [Micah and everyone else] did whatever they considered to be the right thing to do.
7 Nikhat chun Judah gam Bethlehem ching golhang khat ahung vahlutnin ahi.
There was a young man who had been living in Bethlehem in the area where the tribe of Judah lives. He [wanted to work as a priest because he] was a member of the tribe of Levi.
8 Aman Bethlehem chu ahindalhah a chenna ding holla ahung valele leh Ephraim thinglhang gamma hi hung vahlut khat ahi. Hitiahi ahung vale le nalam mahin Micah in na hin ahung vahlut khan ahi.
So he left Bethlehem to find another place to live [and work]. He came to Micah’s house in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.
9 Micah in hoiya konna hung nahim tin anadongin ahi. Aman adonbutnin, “Keihi Levi mi Judah gam Bethlehema kona hung kahin keimahi chenna ding mun holla hung kahi” ati.
Micah asked him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I come from Bethlehem. I am from the tribe of Levi, and I am looking for a place to live [and work as a priest].”
10 Micah in, “Keikomma hin umtan chutileh nang keima dinga mipa leh thempu nahi ding ahi” ati.
Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and you can become like a father [to counsel me], and be my priest. Each year I will give to you ten pieces of silver and some [new] clothes. And I will provide food for you.”
11 Levi mipachu ananom in, hitichun hiche golhangpa chu Micah chate khat tobang'in aumtan ahi.
So the young man agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons.
12 Hitichun Micah in hiche Levi pachu ama thempu in anapansah in, amajong Micah in'ah anacheng tan ahi.
Micah appointed him to be a priest, and he lived in Micah’s house.
13 Micah in tunvang Pakaiyin phatthei eiboh ding ahitai, ajeh chu keiman Levi khat thempu a eipan pehding kaneitai ati.
Then Micah said, “Now I know that Yahweh will do good things for me, because I have a man from the tribe of Levi to be my priest.”
