< Judges 17 >

1 There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim whose name was Michas,
در کوهستان افرایم مردی به نام میخا زندگی می‌کرد.
2 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.
روزی او به مادرش گفت: «آن هزار و صد مثقال نقره‌ای را که فکر می‌کردی از تو دزدیده‌اند و من شنیدم که دزدش را نفرین می‌کردی، نزد من است، من آن را برداشته‌ام.» مادرش گفت: «چون تو اعتراف کردی، خداوند تو را برکت خواهد داد.»
3 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.
پس میخا آن مقدار نقره را که دزدیده بود، به مادرش پس داد. مادرش گفت: «من این نقره را وقف خداوند می‌نمایم و از آن یک بت نقره‌ای برای تو تهیه می‌کنم تا این لعنت از تو دور شود.»
4 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.
پس مادرش دویست مثقال از آن نقره را گرفته، پیش زرگر برد و دستور داد با آن بُتی بسازد. بت ساخته شد و در خانهٔ میخا گذاشته شد. میخا در خانه‌اش علاوه بر بتها، ایفود نیز داشت. او یکی از پسرانش را به کاهنی بتخانهٔ خود تعیین نمود.
5 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 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.
در آن زمان بنی‌اسرائیل پادشاهی نداشت و هر کس هر کاری را که دلش می‌خواست انجام می‌داد.
7 There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there.
یک روز جوانی از قبیلهٔ لاوی که اهل بیت‌لحم یهودا بود شهر خود را ترک گفت تا جای مناسبی برای زندگی پیدا کند. در طول سفر به خانهٔ میخا در کوهستان افرایم رسید.
8 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 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.
میخا از او پرسید: «اهل کجا هستی؟» او گفت: «من از قبیلهٔ لاوی و اهل بیت‌لحم یهودا هستم و می‌خواهم جای مناسبی برای سکونت پیدا کنم.»
10 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.
میخا گفت: «اگر بخواهی می‌توانی پیش من بمانی و کاهن من باشی. سالیانه ده مثقال نقره، یک دست لباس و خوراک به تو خواهم داد.» آن لاوی جوان موافقت کرد و پیش او ماند. میخا او را چون یکی از پسرانش می‌دانست
11 He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons.
12 And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him, for his priest, saying:
و وی را کاهن خود تعیین نمود و او در منزل میخا سکونت گزید.
13 Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites.
میخا گفت: «حال که از قبیلهٔ لاوی کاهنی برای خود دارم، می‌دانم که خداوند مرا برکت خواهد داد.»

< Judges 17 >