ABahluleli

17 Kwakulendoda okwakuthiwa nguMikha eyayidabuka elizweni lezintaba lako-Efrayimi.+ 2 Yathi kunina: “Usazikhumbula yini inhlamvu zakho zesiliva ezingu-1 100 ezatshontshwayo? Ngakuzwa uqalekisa lowo owazitshontshayo. Bengisithi ngikutshele ukuthi isiliva leso sikimi, yimi engasithathayo.” Unina wasesithi: “UJehova kayibusise indodana yami.” 3 Yikho wathatha inhlamvu lezo zesiliva ezingu-1 100 wazibuyisela kunina, kodwa unina wathi kuye: “Isiliva lesi ngizasinikela kuJehova. Ngifuna wenze ngaso isithombe sensimbi lesithombe esibaziweyo.+ Yikho isiliva lesi ngisibuyisela kuwe.”

4 Ngakho uthe esezibuyisele kunina inhlamvu zesiliva, unina wathatha ezingu-200 wazinika umkhandi wesiliva, yena wasesenza isithombe sensimbi lesithombe esibaziweyo. Izithombe lezo zafakwa endlini kaMikha. 5 UMikha wayelendlu ayegcinela kuyo onkulunkulu bakhe, yikho wenza i-efodi+ lezithombe zetherafimu*+ wasebeka indodana yakhe eyodwa ukuthi ibe ngumphristi.+ 6 Ngalezonsuku kwakungelankosi ko-Israyeli.+ Bonke abantu babezenzela ababekubona kulungile.+

7 Kwakulejaha elalingumLevi+ elalivela emulini yakoJuda.* Laselilesikhathi eside lihlala eBhethilehema+ koJuda. 8 Ijaha leli lasuka eBhethilehema koJuda layadinga indawo yokuhlala. Lafika endlini kaMikha eyayiko-Efrayimi elizweni lezintaba.+ 9 UMikha wathi kulo: “Uvela ngaphi?” Laphendula lathi: “Ngivela eBhethilehema koJuda futhi ngingumLevi. Ngiyedlula nje ngidinga indawo yokuhlala.” 10 UMikha wasesithi kulo: “Hlala lami ube ngumeluleki* lomphristi wami. Ngizakuholisa inhlamvu zesiliva ezilitshumi ngomnyaka, ngikunike lempahla kanye lokudla.” Ngakho umLevi wangena endlini kaMikha, 11 wavuma ukuhlala laye njalo uMikha wamphatha njengendodana yakhe. 12 Wabeka umLevi lo waba ngumphristi wakhe+ futhi wahlala laye emzini wakhe. 13 UMikha wathi: “Khathesi sengikwazi ukuthi uJehova uzangenzela okuhle ngoba sengilomphristi ongumLevi.”