Judges 17
1 There was a man named Micah who lived in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.
Or v’era un uomo nella contrada montuosa d’Efraim, che si chiamava Mica.
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].”
Egli disse a sua madre: “I mille cento sicli d’argento che t’hanno rubato, e a proposito de’ quali hai pronunziato una maledizione, e l’hai pronunziata in mia presenza, ecco, li ho io; quel denaro l’avevo preso io”. E sua madre disse: “Benedetto sia dall’Eterno il mio figliuolo!”
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].”
Egli restituì a sua madre i mille cento sicli d’argento, e sua madre disse: “Io consacro di mano mia quest’argento a pro del mio figliuolo, per farne un’immagine scolpita e un’immagine di getto; or dunque te lo rendo”.
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.
E quand’egli ebbe restituito l’argento a sua madre, questa prese dugento sicli e li diede al fonditore, il quale ne fece un’immagine scolpita e un’immagine di getto, che furon messe in casa di Mica.
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.
E quest’uomo, Mica, ebbe una casa di Dio; e fece un efod e degl’idoli, e consacrò uno de’ suoi figliuoli, che gli servì da sacerdote.
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.
In quel tempo non v’era re in Israele; ognuno faceva quel che gli pareva meglio.
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.
Or v’era un giovine di Bethlehem di Giuda, della famiglia di Giuda, il quale era un Levita, e abitava quivi.
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.
Quest’uomo si partì dalla città di Bethlehem di Giuda, per stabilirsi in luogo che trovasse adatto; e, cammin facendo, giunse nella contrada montuosa di Efraim, alla casa di Mica.
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].”
Mica gli chiese: “Donde vieni?” Quello gli rispose: “Sono un Levita di Bethlehem di Giuda, e vado a stabilirmi dove troverò un luogo adatto”.
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.”
Mica gli disse: “Rimani con me, e siimi padre e sacerdote; ti darò dieci sicli d’argento all’anno, un vestito completo, e il vitto”. E il Levita entrò.
11 So the young man agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons.
Egli acconsentì a stare con quell’uomo, che trattò il giovine come uno de’ suoi figliuoli.
12 Micah appointed him to be a priest, and he lived in Micah’s house.
Mica consacrò quel Levita; il giovine gli servì da sacerdote, e si stabilì in casa di lui.
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.”
E Mica disse: “Ora so che l’Eterno mi farà del bene, perché ho un Levita come mio sacerdote”.
