Judges 17

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 There was a man in the mountain region of Ephraim whose name was Micah.	1 In that time, there was a certain man, from mount Ephraim, named Micah.
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 And he said to his mother, “The one thousand one hundred silver coins, which you had separated for yourself, and about which you had sworn in my hearing, behold, I have them, and they are with me.” And she answered him, “My son has been blessed 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 Therefore, he restored them to his mother. And she said to him: “I have consecrated and vowed this silver to the Lord, so that my son would receive it from my hand, and would make a molten idol and a graven image. And now I deliver it to you.”
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 when he restored these to his mother, she took two hundred of the silver coins, and she gave them to the silversmith, so that he might make from them a molten idol and a graven image. And it was in the house of Micah.
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 also separated in it a little shrine for the god. And he made an ephod and theraphim, that is, 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. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.
7 There was a young Levite who had resided within the tribe of Judah at Bethlehem of Judah.	7 Also, there was another young man, from Bethlehem of Judah, one of his relatives. And he himself was a Levite, and he was living 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 Then, departing from the city of Bethlehem, he wished to sojourn wherever he would find it beneficial to himself. And when he had arrived at mount Ephraim, while making the journey, he also turned aside for a little while to the house of Micah.
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 And he was asked by him where he came from. And he responded: “I am a Levite from Bethlehem of Judah. And I am traveling so that I may live where I am able, if I perceive it to be useful to me.”
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 Micah said: “Stay with me. And you shall be to me like a parent and a priest. And I will give to you, each year, ten silver coins, and a double-layered garment, and whatever provisions are necessary.”
11 So the young Levite decided to stay with the man, to whom he became as one of his own sons.	11 He agreed, and he stayed with the man. And he was to him like one of his sons.
12 Micah consecrated the young Levite, who became his priest, remaining in his house.	12 And Micah filled his hand, and he had the young man with him as his priest,
13 Therefore Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, since the Levite has become my priest."	13 saying: “Now I know that God will be good to me, since I have a priest from the stock of the Levites.”