Judges 17

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In the highlands of Ephraim there was a man cal ed Micayehu.	1 There was a man in the mountain region of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2 He said to his mother, 'The eleven hundred silver shekels which were taken from you and concerningwhich 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!'	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."
3 He gave the eleven hundred shekels back to his mother, who said, 'I have indeed vowed to give thissilver to Yahweh for my son, to have a statue carved and an idol cast in metal, but now I should like to give itback to you.' He, however, returned the money to his mother.	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.
4 His mother then took two hundred silver shekels and gave them to the metalworker. With them, hecarved a statue (and cast an idol in metal) which was put in Micayehu's house.	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.
5 This man Micah owned a shrine; he made an ephod and some domestic images, and instal ed one ofhis sons to be his priest.	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.
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did as he saw fit.	6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what he thought best.
7 There was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the clan of Judah, who was a Levite and residedthere as a stranger.	7 There was a young Levite who had resided within the tribe of Judah at Bethlehem of Judah.
8 This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to settle wherever he could find a home. On his travelshe came to the highlands of Ephraim and to Micah's house.	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.
9 Micah asked him, 'Where do you come from?' The other replied, 'I am a Levite from Bethlehem inJudah. I am travel ing, and am going to settle wherever I can find a home.'	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."
10 Micah said to him, 'Stay here with me; be my father and priest and I shal give you ten silver shekelsa year, and clothing and food.'	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."
11 The Levite agreed to remain in the man's house, and the young man became like one of his sons tohim.	11 So the young Levite decided to stay with the man, to whom he became as one of his own sons.
12 Micah installed the Levite; the young man became Micah's priest and stayed in his house.	12 Micah consecrated the young Levite, who became his priest, remaining in his house.
13 And Micah said, 'Now I know that Yahweh will treat me wel , since I have this Levite as priest.'	13 Therefore Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, since the Levite has become my priest."