Judges 17

1 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name [was] Micah.

Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim

2 And he said to his mother, The eleven hundred [shekels] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou didst curse, and speak of also in my ears, behold, the silver [is] with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed [be thou] of the LORD, my son.

said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have the silver here with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!”

3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred [shekels] of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it to thee.

And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.”

4 Yet he restored the money to his mother; and his mother took two hundred [shekels] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made of it a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a graven image and a molten idol. And they were placed in the house of Micah.

5 And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some household idols, and ordained one of his sons as his priest.

6 In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

7 And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah of the family of Judah, who [was] a Levite, and he sojourned there.

And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah.

8 And the man departed out of the city from Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find [a place]: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

This man left the city of Bethlehem in Judah to settle where he could find a place. And as he traveled, he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.

9 And Micah said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, I [am] a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].

“Where are you from?” Micah asked him. “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he replied, “and I am on my way to settle wherever I can find a place.”

10 And Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [shekels] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

“Stay with me,” Micah said to him, “and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your provisions.” So the Levite went in

11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.

and agreed to stay with him, and the young man became like a son to Micah.

12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house.

13 Then said Micah, Now I know that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite for [my] priest.

Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.”