Jueces 17

1 Un hombre llamado Miqueas, de la región montañosa de Efraín

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

2 , le dijo a su madre: “Esos mil cien siclos de plata que te robaron y que te oí maldecir, yo tengo la plata. Yo fui quien la tomó”. Entonces su madre le dijo: “¡Hijo mío, que el Señor te bendiga!”

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 Élle devolvió a su madre los mil cien siclos de plata. Su madre anunció: “Dedico este dinero por completo al Señor. Se lo voy a entregar a mi hijo para que haga tallar un ídolo, una imagen hecha con plata fundida. Así que ahora te lo devuelvo”.

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 Después de devolverle la plata a su madre, ella le dio doscientos siclos a un platero que los convirtió en un ídolo tallado, una imagen hecha con plata fundida. Los guardó en la casa de Miqueas.

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 Miqueas hizo construir un santuario para el ídolo. También hizo un efod y algunos dioses domésticos, y ordenó a uno de sus hijos como sacerdote.

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 En aquel tiempo Israel no tenía un rey: cada uno hacía lo que le parecía correcto.

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.

7 Un joven, levita de la tribu de Judá, que vivía en Belén de Judá,

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

8 se fue de Belén para buscar otro lugar donde vivir. Mientras viajaba por la región montañosa de Efraín, llegó a la casa de Miqueas.

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 “¿De dónde eres?” le preguntó Miqueas. “Soy un levita de Belén de Judá”, respondió el hombre. “Estoy buscando un lugar para vivir”.

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 “Ven y quédate aquí conmigo. Puedes ser mi ‘padre’ y sacerdote, y te daré diez siclos de plata al año, además de tu ropa y comida”. Así que el levita entró

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 y aceptó quedarse con él. El joven se convirtió en un hijo para él.

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

12 Miqueas ordenó al levita como su propio sacerdote y vivió en la casa de Miqueas.

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

13 “Estoy seguro de que el Señor me bendecirá ahora, porque tengo un levita como sacerdote”, concluyó Miqueas.

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