Judges 17

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

Once upon a time, in the hills of Ephraim, lived a man named Micah.

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.

He turned to his mother, his voice heavy with guilt, "The 1,100 silver coins that were taken from you, the ones you put a curse on in my hearing... I have them. I took them." His mother, with a sigh of relief and a smile of forgiveness, replied, "May you be blessed by the Lord, my son."

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.

When he returned the 1100 silver coins to his mother, she revealed, "I had pledged this silver to God for you, my son, to make a carved idol and a cast idol. Now, I will give it back to you."

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.

He returned the money to his mother, who took a portion of it and gave it to a craftsman. The craftsman used it to create a carved and cast image, which was then placed in Micah's house.

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.

Micah had a house for his gods. He crafted a sacred garment and household idols, and appointed one of his own sons as his priest.

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

In that era, Israel had no ruler, and everyone simply followed their own heart's desires.

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

A young man from Bethlehem, belonging to the tribe of Judah, was a Levite. He lived there, feeling like a wanderer in his own land.

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.

The man left his hometown, Bethlehemjudah, in search of a new home. His journey led him to the mountains of Ephraim, to Micah's house.

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.

Micah asked him, "Where are you from?" He replied, "I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I'm searching for a place to call home."

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.

Micah pleaded, "Stay with me, be my guide and spiritual leader. I'll provide you with a yearly salary, clothes, and food." Touched by his sincerity, the Levite agreed.

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

The Levite was content to live with the man, and Micah treated the young man as if he were one of his own sons.

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

Micah devotedly ordained the Levite; the young man, filled with reverence, became his priest, serving faithfully in Micah's home.

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

Micah joyfully realized, "Now I'm certain that God will bless me, for I have a Levite as my priest."