Judges 17

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 There was a man in the mountain region of Ephraim whose name was Micah.	1 There was at that time a man of mount Ephraim whose name was Michas,
2 He said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver over which you pronounced a curse in my hearing when they were taken from you, are in my possession. It was I who took them; so now I will restore them to you."	2 Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst swear in my hearing, behold I have, and they are with me. And she said to him: Blessed be my son by the Lord.
3 When he restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she took two hundred of them and gave them to the silversmith, who made of them a carved idol overlaid with silver.	3 So he restored them to his mother, who said to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my hand, and make a graven and a molten god, so now I deliver it to thee.
4 Then his mother said, "May the LORD bless my son! I have consecrated the silver to the LORD as my gift in favor of my son, by making a carved idol overlaid with silver." It remained in the house of Micah.	4 And he restored them to his mother: and she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a graven and a molten god, which was in the house of Michas.
5 Thus the layman Micah had a sanctuary. He also made an ephod and household idols, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.	5 And he separated also therein a little temple for the god, and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and idols: and he filled the hand of one of his sons, and he became his priest.
6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what he thought best.	6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every one did that which seemed right to himself.
7 There was a young Levite who had resided within the tribe of Judah at Bethlehem of Judah.	7 There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there.
8 From that city he set out to find another place of residence. On his journey he came to the house of Micah in the mountain region of Ephraim.	8 Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas,
9 Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" He answered him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and am on my way to find some other place of residence."	9 He was asked by him whence he came. And he answered: I am a Levite of Bethlehem Juda, and I am going to dwell where I can, and where I shall find a place to my advantage.
10 "Stay with me," Micah said to him. "Be father and priest to me, and I will give you ten silver shekels a year, a set of garments, and your food."	10 And Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a double suit of apparel, and thy victuals.
11 So the young Levite decided to stay with the man, to whom he became as one of his own sons.	11 He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons.
12 Micah consecrated the young Levite, who became his priest, remaining in his house.	12 And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him, for his priest, saying:
13 Therefore Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, since the Levite has become my priest."	13 Now I know God will do me good, since I have a priest of the race of the Levites.