< Balam 17 >
1 Waaliwo omusajja eyabeeranga mu nsi ey’ensozi Efulayimu, erinnya lye Mikka.
And there was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose, name, was 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 unto his mother—The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken by thee, when, thou, didst utter a curse, and didst also say in my hearing, Lo! the silver, is with me! I took it. Then said his mother, Blessed, be my son by Yahweh.
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.”
And, when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said—I had, hallowed, the silver unto Yahweh out of mine own hand, for my son, to make a graved (molten) image, now, therefore, I will restore it unto thee.
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.
But he restored the silver to his mother, —so his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave it to the silversmith, who made thereof a graved (molten) 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.
Now, the man Micah, had a house of gods, —and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and installed one of his sons, who 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, —every man did, that which was right in his own eyes.
7 Ne wabaawo omuvubuka ow’omu kika kya Yuda nga Muleevi, eyabeeranga mu Besirekemuyuda.
And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-judah, of the family of Judah, —he, being a Levite, and, he, being a sojourner 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.
So the man took his journey out of the city, out of Bethlehem-judah, to sojourn, wheresoever he could find [a home], —and he came into the hill country of Ephraim, as far as the house of Micah, in pursuing his journey.
9 Mikka n’amubuuza nti, “Ova wa?” Omuleevi n’amuddamu nti, “Nva mu Besirekemuyuda, era nnoonya we nnyinza okubeera.”
And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him—A Levite, am I, from Bethlehem-judah, and, I, am taking my journey to sojourn, wheresoever I can find [a home].
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 unto him—Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and, I, will give thee ten pieces of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy sustenance. So the Levite went.
11 Awo Omuleevi n’akkiriza okubeera n’omusajja oyo, era omuvubuka n’aba gy’ali ng’omu ku batabani be.
And the Levite was content to dwell with the man, —and the young man became to him, as 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 installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest, —and remained in the house of Micah.
13 Mikka n’ayogera nti, “Kaakano mmanyi nga Mukama Katonda anankoleranga ebirungi, kubanga nnina Omuleevi nga kabona wange.”
Then said Micah—Now, I know that Yahweh will do me good, —seeing I have a Levite as my priest.