Waamuzi 17
1 Palikuwa na mtu aliyeitwa Mika ambaye aliishi katika vilima vya Efraimu.
And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
2 Akamwambia mama yake, “Zile shekeli 1,100 za fedha zilizochukuliwa kwako, ambazo nilisikia ukizinenea maneno ya laana, hizi hapa; mimi ndiye niliyezichukua, lakini sasa ninakurudishia.” Ndipo mama yake akamwambia, “Bwana na akubariki, mwanangu.”
And he said to his mother, The eleven hundred silver-pieces that were taken from thee, and about which thou didst curse and speak of in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son of Jehovah!
3 Alipozirudisha zile shekeli 1,100 za fedha kwa mama yake, mama yake akamwambia, “Mimi nimeiweka fedha hii wakfu kwa Bwana kwa ajili ya mwanangu kutengenezea kinyago cha kuchonga na sanamu ya kusubu. Mimi nitakurudishia wewe.”
And he restored the eleven hundred silver-pieces to his mother; and his mother said, I had dedicated the silver to Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; and now I will restore it to thee.
4 Hivyo akamrudishia mama yake ile fedha, naye mama yake akachukua shekeli mia mbili za hiyo fedha na kumpa mfua fedha, ambaye aliifanyiza kinyago na sanamu. Navyo vikawekwa ndani ya nyumba ya Mika.
Now he restored the silver to his mother; and his mother took two hundred silver-pieces and gave them to the founder, and he made of them a graven image and a molten image; and they were in the house of Micah.
5 Basi Mika alikuwa na mahali pa kuabudia miungu, akatengeneza naivera, pamoja na vinyago, na kumweka mmoja wa wanawe kuwa kuhani wake.
And the man Micah had a house of gods, and made an ephod and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
6 Katika siku hizo Israeli hawakuwa na mfalme, kila mmoja akafanya kama alivyoona vyema machoni pake mwenyewe.
In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.
7 Basi palikuwa na kijana mmoja wa Bethlehemu ya Yuda. Yeye alikuwa Mlawi aliyeishi miongoni mwa kabila la Yuda.
And there was a young man out of Bethlehem-Judah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
8 Huyu kijana akatoka katika mji huo wa Bethlehemu ya Yuda na kutafuta mahali pengine ambapo angeweza kuishi. Alipokuwa akisafiri, akafika nyumbani kwa Mika katika vilima vya Efraimu.
And the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem-Judah, to sojourn where he might find [a place]. And as he journeyed, he came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah.
9 Mika akamuuliza, “Wewe umetoka wapi?” Akamjibu, “Mimi ni Mlawi kutoka Bethlehemu ya Yuda, ninatafuta mahali pa kuishi.”
And Micah said to him, Whence comest thou? And he said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem-Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].
10 Ndipo Mika akamwambia, “Ishi pamoja nami, uwe baba yangu na kuhani wangu, nami nitakupa shekeli kumi za fedha, nguo na chakula.”
And Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give thee yearly ten silver-pieces, and a suit of garments, and thy victuals. And the Levite went in.
11 Hivyo yule Mlawi akakubali kuishi pamoja naye, naye huyo kijana akawa kwake kama mmoja wa wanawe.
And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.
12 Hivyo Mika akamweka wakfu huyo kijana Mlawi, naye huyo akawa kuhani wake na kuishi nyumbani mwake.
And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
13 Ndipo Mika akasema, “Sasa najua Bwana atanitendea mema, kwa kuwa Mlawi huyu amekuwa kuhani wangu.”
Then said Micah, Now I know that Jehovah will do me good, because I have the Levite for priest.
