Waamuzi 17
1 Kulikuwa na mtu katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu, na jina lake ni Mika.
Now there was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim named Micah.
2 Akamwambia mama yake, “Shilingi 1, 100 za fedha ambazo zilichukuliwa kutoka kwako, ambazo ulizungumza kwa kiapo, na kuniambia-tazama hapa! Ninazo fedha pamoja nami. Nimeziiba.” Mama yake akasema, 'Na Bwana atakubariki, mwanangu!'
And he said to his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver which were taken from you, about which you took an oath and said in my hearing, I have given this silver to the Lord from my hand for myself, to make a pictured image and a metal image: see, I have the silver, for I took it: so now I will give it back to you. And his mother said, May the blessing of the Lord be on my son.
3 Alirejesha vipande 1, 100 vya fedha kwa mama yake na mama yake akasema, “Nimeweka fedha hii kwa Bwana, kwa ajili ya mwanangu kuifanya na kuchonga takwimu za chuma.
And he gave back the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, and his mother said, I have made the silver holy to the Lord from me for my son, to make a pictured image and a metal image.
4 Kwa hiyo sasa, ninawarejesha.” Alipokuwa amrudishia mama yake fedha, mama yake alichukua vipande mia mbili za fedha na akawapa mfanyakazi wa chuma ambaye aliwafanya kuwa sanamu na kuchonga takwimu za chuma, na wakawekwa ndani ya nyumba ya Mika.
So he gave the silver back to his mother. Then his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a metal-worker who made a pictured image and a metal image from them: and it was in the house of Micah.
5 Mtu huyo Mika alikuwa na nyumba ya sanamu, naye akafanya efodi na nyumba ya miungu, naye akaajiri mmoja wa wanawe awe mkuhani wake.
And the man Micah had a house of gods; and he made an ephod and family gods and put one of his sons in the position of priest.
6 Siku hizo hapakuwa na mfalme huko Israeli, na kila mtu alifanya yaliyo sawa machoni pake.
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did as seemed right to him.
7 Kisha kulikuwa na kijana mmoja wa Bethlehemu huko Yuda, wa jamaa ya Yuda, ambaye alikuwa Mlawi. Alikaa huko ili kutimiza majukumu yake.
Now there was a young man living in Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah and a Levite, who was not a townsman of the place.
8 Mtu huyo aliondoka Bethlehemu huko Yuda kwenda kutafuta mahali pa kuishi. Alipokuwa akienda, afika nyumbani kwa Mika katika nchi ya mlima wa Efraimu.
And he went away from the town of Beth-lehem-judah, looking for somewhere to make his living-place; and on his journey he came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah.
9 Mika akamwambia, Unatoka wapi? Huyo mtu akamwambia, Mimi ni Mlawi wa Bethlehemu huko Yuda, ninakwenda kutafuta mahali nipate kuishi.
And Micah said to him, Where do you come from? And he said to him, I am a Levite from Beth-lehem-judah, and I am looking for a living-place.
10 Mika akamwambia, “kaa pamoja nami, uwe baba yangu na kuhani wangu. Nitawapa vipande kumi vya fedha kwa mwaka, suti ya nguo, na chakula chako.” Basi Mlawi akaingia nyumbani mwake.
Then Micah said to him, Make your living-place with me, and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten shekels of silver a year and your clothing and food.
11 Mlawi alikuwa na furaha ya kuishi na mtu huyo, na huyo kijana kwa Mika akawa kama mmoja wa wanawe.
And the Levite said he would make his living-place with the man, and he became to him as one of his sons.
12 Mika akamtenga Mlawi kwa ajili ya kazi takatifu, na huyo kijana akawa kuhani wake, naye alikuwa katika nyumba ya Mika.
And Micah gave the position to the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
13 Ndipo Mika akasema, Sasa najua ya kuwa Bwana atanifanyia mema, kwa kuwa Mlawi huyu amekuwa kuhani wangu.
Then Micah said, Now I am certain that the Lord will do me good, seeing that the Levite has become my priest.
