士師記 17

1 ここにエフライムの山の人にて名をミカとよべるものありしが

In that time, there was a certain man, from mount Ephraim, named Micah.

2 その母に言けるは汝かつてその千百枚の銀を取れしことを吾が聞ところにて詛ひて語りしが視よその銀はわが手に在り我之を取るなりと母すなはちわが子よねがはくはヱホバ汝に祝福をたまへと言り

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 彼千百枚の銀をその母にかへせしかば母いひけらくわれわが子のためにひとつの像を雕みひとつの像を鑄んためにその銀をわが手よりヱホバに納む然ばわれ今之を汝にかへすべしと

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 ミカその銀を母にかへせしかば母その銀二百枚をとりて之を鑄物師にあたへてひとつの像をきざませひとつの像を鑄させたり其像はミカの家に在り

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 このミカといふ人神の殿をもちをりエポデおよびテラピムを造りひとりの子を立ておのが祭司となせり

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 此ときにはイスラエルに王なかりければ人々おのれの目に是とみゆることをおこなへり

In those days, there was no king in Israel. Instead, each one did what seemed right to himself.

7 ここにひとりの少者ありてベテレヘムユダに於てユダの族の中にをる彼はレビ人にしてかしこに寓居るなり

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 この人居べきところをたづねてその邑ベテレヘムユダを去しが遂に旅してエフライムの山にゆきてミカの家にいたりしに

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 ミカ之にいひけるは汝いづこよ來れるやと彼之にいふ我はベテレヘムユダのレビ人なるが居べきところをたづねに往くものなり

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 ミカ之に言けるは汝われと偕に居りわがために父とも祭司ともなれよ然ばわれ年に銀十枚および衣服食物を汝にあたへんとレビ人すなはち入しが

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 レビ人つひにその人と偕に居んことを肯ふ是においてその少者はかれの子の一人のごとくなりぬ

He agreed, and he stayed with the man. And he was to him like one of his sons.

12 ミカ、レビ人なるこの少者をたてて祭司となしたればすなはちミカの家に居る

And Micah filled his hand, and he had the young man with him as his priest,

13 ミカここにおいて言ふ今われ知るヱホバわれに恩惠をたまはんそはこのレビ人われの祭司となればなり

saying: “Now I know that God will be good to me, since I have a priest from the stock of the Levites.”