Mga Hukom 17

1 At may isang lalake sa lupaing maburol ng Ephraim, na ang pangala'y Michas.

There was a man named Micah who lived in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.

2 At sinabi niya sa kaniyang ina, Ang isang libo at isang daang putol na pilak na kinuha sa iyo, na siyang ikinapagtungayaw mo, at sinalita mo rin sa aking mga pakinig, narito, ang pilak ay nasa akin; aking kinuha. At sinabi ng kaniyang ina, Pagpalain nawa ng Panginoon ang aking anak.

One day he said to his mother, “I heard you curse whoever stole (1,100 pieces/28 pounds/13 kg.) of silver from your house. I am the one who took the silver, and I still have it.” His mother replied, “My son, I pray that Yahweh will bless you [for admitting that you took it].”

3 At isinauli niya ang isang libo at isang daang putol na pilak sa kaniyang ina, at sinabi ng kaniyang ina, Aking tunay na itinalaga ng aking kamay ang pilak na ito sa Panginoon, na ukol sa aking anak, upang igawa ng isang larawang inanyuan at ng isang larawang binubo: kaya ngayo'y isasauli ko sa iyo.

Micah gave all the silver back to his mother. Then she said [to herself], “I will give [some of] this silver to Yahweh.” And she said to her son, “My son, I want you to make an idol and a statue [from this silver]. So I will give [some of] this silver back to you [for making these things].”

4 At nang kaniyang isauli ang salapi sa kaniyang ina, ay kinuha ng kaniyang ina ang dalawang daang putol na pilak na ibinigay sa mga mangbububo, na siyang gumawa ng isang larawang inanyuan at ng isang larawang binubo: at nasa bahay ni Michas.

So when he gave all the silver to his mother, she took (200 pieces/about 5 pounds/1.6 kg.) of it to a (silversmith/man who made things from silver). With the silver that man made an idol and a statue, [and gave them to Micah]. Micah put them in his house.

5 At ang lalaking si Michas ay nagkaroon ng isang bahay ng mga dios, at siya'y gumawa ng isang epod at mga terap at itinalaga ang isa ng kaniyang mga anak, na maging kaniyang saserdote.

He had in his house a special (shrine/place for putting sacred things). He made a sacred vest and some small idols [and put them in this shrine along with the big idol and the statue]. Then Micah chose one of his sons to become his priest.

6 Nang mga araw na yaon ay walang hari sa Israel: bawa't tao'y gumagawa ng minamatuwid niya sa kaniyang sariling mga mata.

At that time, the Israeli people did not have a king. So [Micah and everyone else] did whatever they considered to be the right thing to do.

7 At may isa namang may kabataan sa Bethlehem-juda, sa angkan ni Juda; na isang Levita; at siya'y nakikipamayan doon.

There was a young man who had been living in Bethlehem in the area where the tribe of Judah lives. He [wanted to work as a priest because he] was a member of the tribe of Levi.

8 At ang lalake ay umalis sa bayan, sa Bethlehem-juda, upang makipamayan kung saan siya makakasumpong ng matutuluyan: at siya'y naparoon sa lupaing maburol ng Ephraim, sa bahay ni Michas habang siya'y naglalakbay.

So he left Bethlehem to find another place to live [and work]. He came to Micah’s house in the hilly area where the tribe of Ephraim live.

9 At sinabi ni Michas sa kaniya, Saan ka nanggaling? At sinabi niya sa kaniya, Ako'y Levita sa Bethlehem-juda, at ako'y yayaong makikipamayan kung saan ako makasumpong ng matutuluyan.

Micah asked him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I come from Bethlehem. I am from the tribe of Levi, and I am looking for a place to live [and work as a priest].”

10 At sinabi ni Michas sa kaniya, Tumahan ka sa akin, at ikaw ay maging sa akin ay isang ama at isang saserdote, at bibigyan kita ng sangpung putol na pilak isang taon, at ng bihisan, at ng iyong pagkain. Sa gayo'y ang Levita ay pumasok.

Micah said to him, “Stay with me, and you can become like a father [to counsel me], and be my priest. Each year I will give to you ten pieces of silver and some [new] clothes. And I will provide food for you.”

11 At ang Levita ay nakipagkasundong tumahang kasama ng lalake: at ang binata sa kaniya'y parang isa sa kaniyang mga anak.

So the young man agreed to live with Micah. He became like one of Micah’s own sons.

12 At itinalaga ni Michas ang Levita, at ang binata ay naging kaniyang saserdote, at nasa bahay ni Michas.

Micah appointed him to be a priest, and he lived in Micah’s house.

13 Nang magkagayo'y sinabi ni Michas, Ngayo'y talastas ko, na gagawan ako ng mabuti ng Panginoon, yamang ako'y may isang Levita na pinakasaserdote ko.

Then Micah said, “Now I know that Yahweh will do good things for me, because I have a man from the tribe of Levi to be my priest.”