Waamuzi 17
1 Kulikuwa na mtu katika nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu, na jina lake ni Mika.
There was a man in the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was 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!'
He said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you spoke a curse, and which I heard—look here! I have the silver with me. I stole it.” His mother said, “May Yahweh bless you, 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.
He restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother and his mother said, “I set apart this silver to Yahweh, for my son to make carved and cast metal figures. So now, I restore it to you.”
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.
When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to a metal worker who made them into carved and cast metal figures, and they were placed 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.
The man Micah had a house of idols and he made an ephod and household gods, and he hired one of his sons to become his 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, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
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 of Bethlehem in Judah, of the clan of Judah, who was a Levite. He stayed there to fulfill his duties.
8 Mtu huyo aliondoka Bethlehemu huko Yuda kwenda kutafuta mahali pa kuishi. Alipokuwa akienda, afika nyumbani kwa Mika katika nchi ya mlima wa Efraimu.
The man left Bethlehem in Judah to go and find a place to live. As he journeyed, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim.
9 Mika akamwambia, Unatoka wapi? Huyo mtu akamwambia, Mimi ni Mlawi wa Bethlehemu huko Yuda, ninakwenda kutafuta mahali nipate kuishi.
Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” The man said to him, “I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am traveling to find a place where I might live.”
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.
Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your food.” So the Levite went into his house.
11 Mlawi alikuwa na furaha ya kuishi na mtu huyo, na huyo kijana kwa Mika akawa kama mmoja wa wanawe.
The Levite was content to live with the man, and the young man became to Micah like 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.
Micah set apart the Levite for sacred duties, and the young man became his priest, and was in Micah's house.
13 Ndipo Mika akasema, Sasa najua ya kuwa Bwana atanifanyia mema, kwa kuwa Mlawi huyu amekuwa kuhani wangu.
Then Micah said, “Now I know that Yahweh will do good for me, because this Levite has become my priest.”
