Balam 17
1 Waaliwo omusajja eyabeeranga mu nsi ey’ensozi Efulayimu, erinnya lye Mikka.
In that time, there was a certain man, from mount Ephraim, named Micah.
2 N’agamba nnyina nti, “Ebitundu bya ffeeza olukumi mu ekikumi ebyakubulako, n’okukolima n’okolima, nga mpulira, laba, effeeza eyo nze njirina. Nze nagitwala.” Awo nnyina n’amugamba nti, “Mwana wange, Mukama Katonda akuwe omukisa.”
And he said to his mother, “The one thousand one hundred silver coins, which you had separated for yourself, and about which you had sworn in my hearing, behold, I have them, and they are with me.” And she answered him, “My son has been blessed by the Lord.”
3 Awo bwe yakomyawo ebitundu bya ffeeza ebyo olukumi mu ekikumi, eri nnyina, nnyina n’amugamba nti, “Mpaayo effeeza eno eri Mukama Katonda, okuva mu mukono gwange ku lw’omwana wange, ekolebwemu ekifaananyi ekyole n’ekifaananyi ekisaanuuse, era ndimuzza gy’oli.”
Therefore, he restored them to his mother. And she said to him: “I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, so that my son would receive it from my hand, and would make a molten idol and a graven image. And now I deliver it to you.”
4 Awo bwe yazza effeeza, nnyina n’addira ebitundu ebikumi bibiri ebya ffeeza, n’abiwa omuweesi wa ffeeza, n’abikolamu ekifaananyi ekyole n’ekifaananyi ekisaanuuse. Ne biteekebwa mu nnyumba ya Mikka.
And when he restored these to his mother, she took two hundred of the silver coins, and she gave them to the silversmith, so that he might make from them a molten idol and a graven image. And it was in the house of Micah.
5 Omusajja oyo Mikka yalina essabo. N’akola efodi, n’ebifaananyi ebyole n’ayawula omu ku batabani be okuba kabona we.
And he also separated in it a little shrine for the god. And he made an ephod and theraphim, that is, a priestly garment and idols. And he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.
6 Mu biro ebyo tewaaliwo kabaka mu Isirayiri, era buli muntu yakolanga nga bw’alaba.
In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.
7 Ne wabaawo omuvubuka ow’omu kika kya Yuda nga Muleevi, eyabeeranga mu Besirekemuyuda.
Also, there was another young man, from Bethlehem of Judah, one of his relatives. And he himself was a Levite, and he was living there.
8 N’ava mu kibuga kya Besirekemuyuda n’atandika okunoonya gy’anaabera, n’atuuka mu nsi ey’ensozi eya Efulayimu mu nnyumba ya Mikka. Wabula yali akyali ku lugendo ng’akyanoonya aw’okubeera.
Then, departing from the city of Bethlehem, he wished to sojourn wherever he would find it beneficial to himself. And when he had arrived at mount Ephraim, while making the journey, he also turned aside for a little while to the house of Micah.
9 Mikka n’amubuuza nti, “Ova wa?” Omuleevi n’amuddamu nti, “Nva mu Besirekemuyuda, era nnoonya we nnyinza okubeera.”
And he was asked by him where he came from. And he responded: “I am a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah. And I am traveling so that I may live where I am able, if I perceive it to be useful to me.”
10 Mikka n’amugamba nti, “Beera nange, obeere kitange era kabona, nange ndikuwa ebitundu bya ffeeza kkumi ng’empeera, era ne nkuwa n’engoye n’emmere.” Omuleevi n’abeera naye.
And Micah said: “Stay with me. And you shall be to me like a parent and a priest. And I will give to you, each year, ten silver coins, and a double-layered garment, and whatever provisions are necessary.”
11 Awo Omuleevi n’akkiriza okubeera n’omusajja oyo, era omuvubuka n’aba gy’ali ng’omu ku batabani be.
He agreed, and he stayed with the man. And he was to him like one of his sons.
12 Awo Mikka n’ayawula Omuleevi, era omuvubuka oyo n’abeera kabona we n’abeera mu nnyumba ya Mikka.
And Micah filled his hand, and he had the young man with him as his priest,
13 Mikka n’ayogera nti, “Kaakano mmanyi nga Mukama Katonda anankoleranga ebirungi, kubanga nnina Omuleevi nga kabona wange.”
saying: “Now I know that God will be good to me, since I have a priest from the stock of the Levites.”
