Bilombe 17

1 Kati na etuka ya bangomba ya Efrayimi, ezalaki na mobali moko; kombo na ye ezalaki « Mika. »

There was a man named Micah who lived in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.

2 Alobaki na mama na ye: — Shekeli ya palata nkoto moko na nkama moko oyo bayibaki yo, oyo na tina na yango olakelaki mabe na miso na ngai, ezali na maboko na ngai; ngai nde nazwaki yango. Mama na ye alobaki na ye: — Mwana na ngai, tika ete Yawe apambola yo!

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].”

3 Azongiselaki mama na ye mbongo ya bibende ya palata, nkoto moko na nkama moko. Mama na ye alobaki: — Na maboko na ngai moko, nabonzi mbongo yango epai na Yawe mpo na mwana na ngai, mpo na kosala ekeko mpe nzambe ya ekeko ya palata oyo banyangwisa. Nakozongisela yo yango.

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].”

4 Tango Mika azwaki mbongo yango, azongisaki yango lisusu epai ya mama na ye; mpe mama na ye alongolaki mbongo ya bibende ya palata, nkama mibale oyo apesaki epai ya monyangwisi bibende na moto. Moto yango asalaki na yango ekeko mpe nzambe ya ekeko ya palata oyo banyangwisa. Mpe batiaki yango kati na ndako ya Mika.

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.

5 Nzokande, Mika azalaki na esika na ye ya bule epai wapi azalaki kosambela. Asalisaki efode mpe banzambe mosusu ya bikeko; bongo abulisaki lokola nganga-nzambe na ye, moko kati na bana na ye ya mibali.

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.

6 Na mikolo wana, bana ya Isalaele bazalaki na mokonzi te; moto na moto azalaki kosala nyonso oyo ezali malamu na miso na ye.

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.

7 Nzokande, ezalaki na elenge mobali moko ya Molevi, azalaki kovanda na Beteleemi ya Yuda, na ekolo Yuda.

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.

8 Alongwaki na engumba Beteleemi ya Yuda mpe akendeki koluka esika mosusu ya kovanda. Na mobembo na ye, akomaki na etuka ya bangomba ya Efrayimi, na ndako ya Mika.

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.

9 Mika atunaki ye: — Owuti wapi? Azongisaki: — Nazali moto ya libota ya Levi, nawuti na Beteleemi ya Yuda mpe nazali koluka esika ya kovanda.

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].”

10 Mika alobaki na ye: — Vanda elongo na ngai. Okozala tata mpe nganga na ngai; nakopesa yo na mobu moko mbongo ya bibende ya palata, zomi, bilamba ya kolata mpe biloko ya kolia. Molevi akomaki kosala epai ya Mika.

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.”

11 Boye, Molevi yango andimaki kovanda elongo na Mika. Mika akomisaki Molevi lokola moko kati na bana na ye.

So the young man agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons.

12 Mika abulisaki Molevi yango lokola nganga-nzambe na ye mpe akomaki kovanda elongo na ye.

Micah appointed him to be a priest, and he lived in Micah’s house.

13 Mika alobaki: « Sik’oyo nayebi ete Yawe akosalela ngai bolamu lokola moto ya libota ya Levi akomi nganga-nzambe na ngai. »

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.”