Judges 18

NEW JERUSALEM	NOVA VULGATA
1 In those days there was no king in Israel. Now in those days the tribe of Dan was in search of aterritory to live in, for until then no territory had fallen to them among the tribes of Israel.	1 In diebus illis non erat rex in Israel, et tribus Dan quaere bat possessionem sibi, ut habitaret in ea; usque ad illum enim diem inter ceteras tribus sortem non acceperat.
2 From their clan the Danites sent five brave men from Zorah and Eshtaol to reconnoitre the country andexplore it. They said to them, 'Go and explore the country.' The five men came to the highlands of Ephraim, asfar as Micah's house, and spent the night there.	2 Miserunt igitur filii Dan stirpis et familiae suae quinque viros fortissimos de Saraa et Esthaol, ut explorarent terram et diligenter inspicerent, dixeruntque eis: “ Ite et considerate terram ”. Qui cum venissent in montem Ephraim usque ad domum Michae, pernoctaverunt ibi.
3 When they were near Micah's house, they recognised the voice of the young Levite and, going nearer,said to him, 'Who brought you here? What are you doing here? What is keeping you here?'	3 Cum essent prope domum Michae, agnoscentes vocem adulescentis Levitae declinaverant illuc dicentes ad eum: “ Quis te huc adduxit? Quid hic agis? Quam ob causam huc venire voluisti? ”.
4 He replied, 'Micah has made certain arrangements with me. He pays me a wage and I act as hispriest.'	4 Qui respondit eis: “ Haec et haec praestitit mihi Michas et me mercede conduxit, ut sim ei sacerdos ”.
5 They replied, 'Then consult God, so that we may know whether the journey we are on wil lead tosuccess.'	5 Rogaveruntque eum, ut consuleret Deum, ut scire possent an prospero itinere pergerent, et res haberet effectum.
6 The priest replied, 'Go in peace; Yahweh is watching over your journey.'	6 Qui respondit eis: “ Ite cum pace; Dominus respicit viam vestram et iter, quo pergitis ”.
7 The five men then left and, arriving at Laish, saw that the people living there had an untroubledexistence, according to the customs of the Sidonians, peaceful and trusting, that there was no lack or shortageof any sort in the territory, that they were a long way away from the Sidonians and that they had no contact withthe Aramaeans.	7 Euntes itaque quinque viri venerunt Lais videruntque populum habitantem in ea absque ullo timore iuxta Sidoniorum consuetudinem, securum et quietum, nullo eis penitus resistente, magnarumque opum et procul a Sidoniis neque in societate cum Syria.
8 They then went back to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol and, when the latter asked them, 'Whathave you to report?'	8 Reversique ad fratres suos in Saraa et Esthaol et quid egissent sciscitantibus, responderunt:
9 they said, 'Up! we must go against them, since we have looked at the country and it is excellent,though you take no action! Waste no time in setting out and taking possession of the country.	9 “ Surgite, et ascendamus adversus eos. Vidimus enim terram valde opulentam et uberem, et vos neglegetis? Nolite cessare; eamus et possideamus eam.
10 When you get there, you wil find a trusting people. The country is wide, and God has put it at yourmercy. It is a place where there is no lack of anything on earth.'	10 Intrabimus ad securos in regionem latissimam; tradetque nobis Deus locum, in quo nullius rei est penuria eorum, quae sunt in terra ”.
11 From these places, consequently, from the clan of Danites at Zorah and Eshtaol, six hundred men setout equipped for war.	11 Profecti igitur sunt de cognatione Dan, de Saraa et Esthaol, sescenti viri accincti armis bellicis.
12 They went up and camped at Kiriath-Jearim in Judah; and for this reason the place is stil cal ed theCamp of Dan today. It lies to the west of Kiriath-Jearim.	12 Ascendentesque castrametati sunt in Cariathiarim Iudae, qui locus ex eo tempore Castrorum Dan nomen accepit et est post tergum Cariathiarim.
13 From there they entered the highlands of Ephraim and came to Micah's house.	13 Inde transierunt in montem Ephraim. Cumque venissent usque ad domum Michae,
14 The five men who had been to reconnoitre the country then spoke to their brothers. 'Do you know',they said, 'that in these houses there is an ephod, some domestic images, a carved statue and an idol cast inmetal? So now work out what you have got to do!'	14 dixerunt quinque viri, qui prius missi fuerant ad considerandam terram Lais, fratribus suis: “ Nostis quod in domibus istis sit ephod et theraphim et sculptile atque conflatile? Videte quid vobis placeat, ut faciatis ”.
15 So, turning off the road, they went to the young Levite's dwelling, to Micah's house, and greeted himpeaceful y.	15 Et, cum paululum declinassent, ingressi sunt domum adulescentis Levitae, domum Michae, salutaveruntque eum verbis pacificis.
16 While the six hundred men of the Danites, equipped for war, stood at the threshold of the gate,	16 Sescenti autem viri, ita ut erant armati, stabant ante ostium.
17 the five who had been to reconnoitre the country went on into the house and took the carved statue,the ephod, the domestic images and the idol cast in metal; meanwhile the priest remained at the threshold of thegate with the six hundred men equipped for war.	17 At illi, qui ingressi fuerant domum iuvenis, sculptile et ephod et theraphim atque conflatile tulerunt; et sacerdos stabat ante ostium et sescenti viri armati.
18 These men, having entered Micah's house, took the carved statue, the ephod, the domestic imagesand the idol cast in metal. The priest, however, said, 'What are you doing?'	18 Tulerunt igitur, qui intraverant domum, sculptile, ephod et theraphim atque conflatile. Quibus dixit sacerdos: “ Quid facitis? ”.
19 'Be quiet,' they replied. 'Put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and become our father andpriest. Are you better off as domestic priest to one man, or as priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?'	19 Cui responderunt: “ Tace et pone digitum super os tuum venique nobiscum, ut habeamus te patrem et sacerdotem. Quid tibi melius est, ut sis sacerdos in domo unius viri, an in una tribu et familia in Israel? ”.
20 The priest was delighted; he took the ephod, the domestic images and the carved statue, and wentoff among the people.	20 Et gavisus est sacerdos tulitque ephod et theraphim ac sculptile et profectus est in medio populi.
21 Resuming their original line of march, they set off, having put the women, children, livestock andbaggage out in front.	21 Qui cum pergerent et ante se ire fecissent parvulos et iumenta et omne, quod erat pretiosum,
22 They had gone some distance from Micah's house, when the people living in the houses near Micah'shouse raised the alarm and set off in pursuit of the Danites.	22 iamque a domo Michae essent procul, viri, qui habitabant in aedibus prope domum Michae, convocati secuti sunt filios Dan
23 As they shouted after the Danites, the latter, turning about, said to Micah, 'What is the matter withyou, that you are shouting like this?'	23 et post tergum clamare coeperunt. Qui cum respexissent, dixerunt ad Micham: “ Quid tibi vis? Cur concurritis? ”.
24 He replied, 'You have taken away my god, which I have had made, and the priest as wel . You aregoing away, and what have I got left? And now you ask me, "What is the matter?" '	24 Qui respondit: “ Deos meos, quos mihi feci, tulistis, et sacerdotem et omnia, quae habeo, et dicitis: “Quid tibi est?” ”.
25 The Danites said, 'Let us hear no more from you, or quick-tempered men may set about you, and thismight cost you your life and the lives of your family!'	25 Dixeruntque ei filii Dan: “ Cave, ne ultra loquaris ad nos, et irruant in te viri animo concitati, et ipse cum omni domo tua pereas ”.
26 So the Danites went on their way; and Micah, seeing that they were the stronger, turned and wenthome.	26 Et sic, coepto itinere, perrexerunt. Videns autem Michas quod fortiores se essent, reversus est in domum suam.
27 So, having taken the god made by Micah, and the priest who had been his, the Danites marched onLaish, on a peaceful and trusting people. They put it to the sword and they burned down the town.	27 Sescenti autem viri tulerunt, quod Michas fecerat, et sacerdotem eius veneruntque in Lais ad populum quiescentem atque securum et percusserunt eos in ore gladii urbemque incendio tradiderunt,
28 There was no one to come to the rescue, since it was a long way from Sidon and had no contact withthe Aramaeans. It lay in the valley running towards Beth-Rehob. They rebuilt the town and settled in it	28 nullo penitus ferente praesidium, eo quod procul habitarent a Sidone neque cum Syria haberent quidquam societatis ac negotii. Erat autem civitas sita in regione Rohob; quam rursum exstruentes habitaverunt in ea,
29 and cal ed it Dan, from the name of Dan their ancestor who had been born to Israel; original y,however, the town had been called Laish.	29 vocato nomine civitatis Dan iuxta vocabulum patris sui, quem genuerat Israel, quae prius Lais dicebatur.
30 The Danites erected the carved statue for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, andhis sons after him were priests for the tribe of Dan til the day when the inhabitants of the country were carriedaway into exile.	30 Posueruntque sibi sculptile; et Ionathan filius Gersam filii Moysi ac filii eius sacerdotes erant in tribu Dan usque ad diem captivitatis terrae;
31 The carved statue made by Micah they instal ed for their own use, and there it stayed as long as thehouse of God remained at Shiloh.	31 mansitque apud eos idolum Michae omni tempore, quo fuit domus Dei in Silo.