士師記 17

1 以法蓮山地有一個人名叫米迦。

There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim whose name was Michas,

2 他對母親說：「你那一千一百舍客勒銀子被人拿去，你因此咒詛，並且告訴了我。看哪，這銀子在我這裏，是我拿去了。」他母親說：「我兒啊，願耶和華賜福與你！」

Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst swear in my hearing, behold I have, and they are with me. And she said to him: Blessed be my son by the Lord.

3 米迦就把這一千一百舍客勒銀子還他母親。他母親說：「我分出這銀子來為你獻給耶和華，好雕刻一個像，鑄成一個像。現在我還是交給你。」

So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god, so now I deliver it to thee.

4 米迦將銀子還他母親，他母親將二百舍客勒銀子交給銀匠，雕刻一個像，鑄成一個像，安置在米迦的屋內。

And he restored them to his mother: and she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a graven and a molten god, which was in the house of Michas.

5 這米迦有了神堂，又製造以弗得和家中的神像，分派他一個兒子作祭司。

And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and idols: and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.

6 那時以色列中沒有王，各人任意而行。

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

7 猶大的伯利恆有一個少年人，是猶大族的利未人，他在那裏寄居。

There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there.

8 這人離開猶大的伯利恆城，要找一個可住的地方。行路的時候，到了以法蓮山地，走到米迦的家。

Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas,

9 米迦問他說：「你從哪裏來？」他回答說：「從猶大的伯利恆來。我是利未人，要找一個可住的地方。」

He was asked by him whence he came. And he answered: I am a Levite of Bethlehem Juda, and I am going to dwell where I can, and where I shall find a place to my advantage.

10 米迦說：「你可以住在我這裏，我以你為父、為祭司。我每年給你十舍客勒銀子，一套衣服和度日的食物。」利未人就進了他的家。

And Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a double suit of apparel, and thy victuals.

11 利未人情願與那人同住；那人看這少年人如自己的兒子一樣。

He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons.

12 米迦分派這少年的利未人作祭司，他就住在米迦的家裏。

And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him, for his priest, saying:

13 米迦說：「現在我知道耶和華必賜福與我，因我有一個利未人作祭司。」

Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites.