Mpitsara 17

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

There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim whose name was Michas,

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.

Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst swear in my hearing, behold I have, and they are with me. And she said to him: Blessed be my son 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.

So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god, so now I deliver it to thee.

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 he restored them to his mother: and she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a graven and a molten god, which was in the house of Michas.

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

And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, 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, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

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

There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt 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.

Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas,

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.

He was asked by him whence he came. And he answered: I am a Levite of Bethlehem Juda, and I am going to dwell where I can, and where I shall find a place to my advantage.

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 Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a double suit of apparel, and thy victuals.

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

He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons.

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

And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him, for his priest, saying:

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

Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites.