1. In the highlands of Ephraim there was a man called Micayehu.

2. He said to his mother, 'The eleven hundred silver shekels which were taken from you and concerning which you uttered a curse, having said in my hearing . . . Look, I have got that silver. I was the one who took it.' His mother said, 'May Yahweh bless my boy!'

3. He gave the eleven hundred shekels back to his mother, who said, 'I have indeed vowed to give this silver to Yahweh for my son, to have a statue carved and an idol cast in metal, but now I should like to give it back to you.' He, however, returned the money to his mother.

4. His mother then took two hundred silver shekels and gave them to the metalworker. With them, he carved a statue (and cast an idol in metal) which was put in Micayehu's house.

5. This man Micah owned a shrine; he made an ephod and some domestic images, and installed one of his sons to be his priest.

6. In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did as he saw fit.

7. There was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the clan of Judah, who was a Levite and resided there as a stranger.

8. This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to settle wherever he could find a home. On his travels he came to the highlands of Ephraim and to Micah's house.

9. Micah asked him, 'Where do you come from?' The other replied, 'I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I am travelling, and am going to settle wherever I can find a home.'

10. Micah said to him, 'Stay here with me; be my father and priest and I shall give you ten silver shekels a year, and clothing and food.'

11. The Levite agreed to remain in the man's house, and the young man became like one of his sons to him.

12. Micah installed the Levite; the young man became Micah's priest and stayed in his house.

13. And Micah said, 'Now I know that Yahweh will treat me well, since I have this Levite as priest.'





“Invoquemos sempre o auxílio de Nossa Senhora.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina