Judges, 17

1. And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name [was] Micah.

1. A man named Micah lived in the mountains of Ephraim. One day

2. And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [shekels] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver [is] with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed [be thou] of the LORD, my son.

2. he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver taken from you and about which you uttered a curse, well, it was I who took that silver. And now, I return it to you."

3. And when he had restored the eleven hundred [shekels] of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.

3. His mother answered, "May Yahweh bless my son!" So he returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother. But his mother said to him, "I had consecrated this money to Yahweh with my own hand, so that with this money, my son could make a statue cast in metal. So I am giving this silver back to you."

4. Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred [shekels] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

4. He, however, returned the silver to his mother who set aside two hundred pieces for the silversmith, who made a statue cast in metal.

5. And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

5. This was placed in the house of Micah, so that Micah had a house of God. He also made an ephod to consult Yahweh as they cast lots, and some small idols, and consecrated also one of his sons as his priest.

6. In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.

6. At that time, there was no king in Israel and each one did what seemed right to him.

7. And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who [was] a Levite, and he sojourned there.

7. A young Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, a descendant of Moses who lived there as a foreigner,

8. And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find [a place]: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.

8. left Bethlehem one day and set out to see where he could live as a guest. He came to the house of Micah in the mountains of Ephraim,

9. And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I [am] a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].

9. and Micah asked him, "Where do you come from?" He answered, "I am a Levite and I have come walking from Bethlehem; I am in search of a place where I can stay as a guest."

10. And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [shekels] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

10. Micah said to him, "Stay in my house and be a father and priest to me; I shall give you ten pieces of silver a year, clothing and food." So the Levite went in to his house.

11. And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.

11. The Levite agreed to stay in Micah's house and became like one of his sons.

12. And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

12. Micah consecrated the Levite, and this young man became his priest and remained in the house of Micah.

13. Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to [my] priest.

13. And Micah said, "Now I know that Yahweh will bestow favors on me for this Levite has become my priest."