Judges 17
1 There was a man named Micah who lived in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.
Munthu wina dzina lake Mika wochokera ku dziko la mapiri la Efereimu anawuza amayi ake kuti
2 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].”
“Ndinamva inu mukutemberera munthu amene anaba ndalama zanu zasiliva 1,100. Ndalamazo zili ndi ine, ndinatenga ndine.” Pamenepo amayi akewo anati, “Yehova akudalitse mwana wanga!”
3 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].”
Choncho Mika anabweza ndalama 1,100 za siliva kwa amayi ake, ndipo amayi akewo anati, “Ine ndapatulira Yehova ndalama za silivazi kuti mwana wanga aseme fano ndi kulikuta ndi siliva. Ndiye tsopano ndikubwezera ndalamazo.”
4 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.
Tsono Mika atabweza ndalama zija kwa amayi ake, iwo anatengapo ndalama za siliva 200 namupatsa mmisiri wosula siliva. Iye anakonza fano, nasungunula siliva uja ndi kulikutira fano lija. Ndipo Mika anayika fanolo mʼnyumba mwake.
5 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.
Mikayu anali ndi kachisi, ndipo anapanga efodi ndi mafano otchedwa terafimu. Anapatula mwana wake mmodzi kuti akhale wansembe.
6 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.
Masiku amenewo kunalibe mfumu ku Israeli. Aliyense amachita zomwe zinamukomera.
7 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.
Ku Betelehemu mʼdziko la Yuda kunali mnyamata wina amene anali wa fuko la Levi.
8 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.
Iyeyu anachoka mu mzinda wa Betelehemu uja ku Yuda kukafuna malo ena okhala. Akuyenda, anafika ku dziko la mapiri la Efereimu ku nyumba ya Mika.
9 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].”
Tsono Mika anamufunsa kuti, “Mukuchokera kuti?” Ndipo iye anayakha kuti, “Ndine Mlevi wochokera ku Betelehemu mʼdziko la Yuda. Ndikufunafuna malo okhala.”
10 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.”
Tsono Mika anati kwa iye, “Khalani ndi ine. Mukhale ngati mlangizi wanga ndi wansembe, ndipo ine ndizikupatsani ndalama za siliva khumi pa chaka komanso zovala ndi zakudya.”
11 So the young man agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons.
Choncho Mleviyo anavomera kuti azikhala naye, ndipo mnyamatayo anakhala ngati mmodzi mwa ana ake aamuna.
12 Micah appointed him to be a priest, and he lived in Micah’s house.
Pambuyo pake Mika anapatula Mleviyo ndipo mnyamatayu anakhala wansembe. Tsono ankakhala mʼnyumba ya Mika.
13 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.”
Ndipo Mika anati, “Tsopano ndadziwa kuti Yehova adzandikomera mtima chifukwa Mleviyu ndiye wakhala wansembe wanga.”
