Mpitsara 17

1 Nisy lehilahy tany amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Efraima, Mika no anarany.

In that time, there was a certain man, from mount Ephraim, named Micah.

2 Ary hoy izy tamin’ ny reniny: Ilay sekely volafotsy zato amby arivo nalaina taminao, izay nasianao ozona sady nolazainao teo anatrehako, indro, ato amiko ny vola; izaho no naka azy. Dia hoy ny reniny: Hotahin’ i Jehovah anie ny zanako.

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 Ary rehefa naveriny tamin’ ny reniny ny sekely volafotsy zato amby arivo, dia hoy reniny: Atokako ho an’ i Jehovah mihitsy ity vola avy amin’ ny tanako ity ka hatolotro ho anao, ry zanako, hanaovana sarin-javatra voasokitra sy sarin-javatra an-idina, ary ankehitriny dia averiko ho aminao izy.

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 Ary rehefa naveriny tamin-dreniny ny volafotsy, dia naka volafotsy roan-jato ny reniny, ka nomeny ny mpanao an-idina hataony sarin-javatra voasokitra sy sarin-javatra an-idina; dia natao tao an-tranon’ i Mika izany.

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 Ary nanana tranon’ andriamanitra Mika sady efa nanao efoda sy terafima; ary ny zanany anankiray no natokany ka tonga mpisorony.

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 Tamin’ izany andro izany tsy nisy mpanjaka tamin’ ny Isiraely: fa samy nanao izay nataony ho marina avy ny olona rehetra.

In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.

7 Ary nisy zatovo avy any Betlehema-joda, tamin’ ny fokon’ i Joda, ary Levita izy sady nivahiny tao.

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 Ary ralehilahy niala tao an-tanàna Betlehema-joda hivahiny any amin’ izay azony hitoerana; ary nony nandeha izy, dia tonga tany amin’ ny tany havoan’ i Efraima tao an-tranon’ i Mika.

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 Ary hoy Mika taminy: Avy aiza moa ianao? Dia hoy kosa izy taminy: Levita avy any Betlehema-joda aho ka mandeha hivahiny eny amin’ izay azoko hitoerana.

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 Dia hoy Mika taminy: Mitoera atỳ amiko ianao, ary aoka ho raiko sy ho mpisoroko, dia homeko sekely folo volafotsy isan-taona sy fitafiana ary hanina. Dia niditra ilay Levita.

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 Ary nanaiky hitoetra tao amin-dralehilahy ilay Levita, ka dia tonga tahaka ny zanany izy.

He agreed, and he stayed with the man. And he was to him like one of his sons.

12 Dia natokan’ i Mika ilay Levita, ka dia tonga mpisorony izy ary nitoetra tao an-tranon’ i Mika.

And Micah filled his hand, and he had the young man with him as his priest,

13 Dia hoy Mika: Fantatro izao fa hanisy soa ahy Jehovah, satria manana ity Levita ity ho mpisoroko aho.

saying: “Now I know that God will be good to me, since I have a priest from the stock of the Levites.”