OLD TESTAMENT							NEW TESTAMENT
The 7 Books	Old Testament History		Wisdom Books	Major Prophets	Minor Prophets		NT History	Epistles of St. Paul		General Writings
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuter. Joshua Judges	Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chron. 2 Chron.	Ezra Nehem. Tobit Judith Esther 1 Macc. 2 Macc.	Job Psalms Proverbs Eccles. Songs Wisdom Sirach	Isaiah Jeremiah Lament. Baruch Ezekiel Daniel	Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah	Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi	Matthew Mark Luke John Acts	Romans 1 Corinth. 2 Corinth. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians	1 Thess. 2 Thess. 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews	James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

Judges 18

« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 »

1 ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἦν βασιλεὺς ἐν Ισραηλ καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐζήτει ἡ φυλὴ τοῦ Δαν ἑαυτῇ κληρονομίαν τοῦ κατοικεῖν ὅτι οὐκ ἔπεσεν αὐτῇ ἕως τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκείνων ἐν μέσῳ φυλῶν Ισραηλ κληρονομία 2 καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν οἱ υἱοὶ Δαν ἐκ τῶν συγγενειῶν αὐτῶν πέντε ἄνδρας ἀπὸ μέρους αὐτῶν υἱοὺς δυνάμεως ἐκ Σαραα καὶ Εσθαολ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐξιχνιάσαι αὐτὴν καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτούς πορεύεσθε καὶ ἐξεραυνήσατε τὴν γῆν καὶ παρεγένοντο εἰς ὄρος Εφραιμ ἕως οἴκου Μιχα καὶ κατέπαυσαν ἐκεῖ 3 αὐτῶν ὄντων παρὰ τῷ οἴκῳ Μιχα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐπέγνωσαν τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ παιδαρίου τοῦ νεωτέρου τοῦ Λευίτου καὶ ἐξέκλιναν ἐκεῖ καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ τίς ἤγαγέν σε ὧδε καὶ τί ποιεῖς ἐνταῦθα καὶ τί σοί ἐστιν ὧδε 4 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς οὕτως καὶ οὕτως ἐποίησέν μοι Μιχα καὶ ἐμισθώσατό με καὶ ἐγενήθην αὐτῷ εἰς ἱερέα 5 καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ ἐπερώτησον δὴ ἐν τῷ θεῷ καὶ γνωσόμεθα εἰ κατευοδοῖ ἡ ὁδὸς ἡμῶν ἣν ἡμεῖς πορευόμεθα ἐ{P'} αὐτήν 6 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἱερεύς πορεύεσθε εἰς εἰρήνην ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἡ ὁδὸς ὑμῶν κα{Q'} ἣν ὑμεῖς πορεύεσθε ἐν αὐτῇ

1 These were days when no king yet ruled in Israel. And the men of Dan were still trying to find a home to live in; the portion allotted to them among the other tribes had not yet fallen into their hands. 2 So, from their quarters at Saraa and Esthaol, they sent out five champions of theirs to make a careful survey of the land. Setting out with these orders, they reached the hill-country of Ephraim, and there found a lodging at Michas’ house. 3 Here, among strangers, they recognized the tones of the young Levite’s voice; Why, they said, who persuaded thee to come into these parts? What errand brought thee here? 4 So he told them what Michas had promised to do for him, and what payment was made him for living there as priest of the shrine. 5 They asked him, too, to consult the Lord, and tell them whether their journey should prosper, and its end be achieved; 6 Go on undismayed, said he, the Lord looks favourably on your journey, and its errand.

1 In diebus illis non erat rex in Israël, et tribus Dan quærebat possessionem sibi, ut habitaret in ea: usque ad illum enim diem inter ceteras tribus sortem non acceperat. 2 Miserunt ergo filii Dan stirpis et familiæ suæ quinque viros fortissimos de Saraa et Esthaol, ut explorarent terram, et diligenter inspicerent: dixeruntque eis: Ite, et considerate terram. Qui cum pergentes venissent in montem Ephraim, et intrassent domum Michæ, requieverunt ibi: 3 et agnoscentes vocem adolescentis Levitæ, utentesque illius diversorio, dixerunt ad eum: Quis te huc adducit? quid hic agis? quam ob causam huc venire voluisti? 4 Qui respondit eis: Hæc et hæc præstitit mihi Michas, et me mercede conduxit, ut sim ei sacerdos. 5 Rogaverunt autem eum ut consuleret Dominum ut scire possent an prospero itinere pergerent, et res haberet effectum. 6 Qui respondit eis: Ite in pace: Dominus respicit viam vestram, et iter quo pergitis.

7 καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ πέντε ἄνδρες καὶ παρεγένοντο εἰς Λαισα καὶ εἶδον τὸν λαὸν τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν αὐτῇ καθήμενον ἐν ἐλπίδι κατὰ τὴν σύγκρισιν τῶν Σιδωνίων ἡσυχάζοντας ἐν ἐλπίδι καὶ μὴ δυναμένους λαλῆσαι ῥῆμα ὅτι μακράν εἰσιν ἀπὸ Σιδῶνος καὶ λόγος οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς μετὰ Συρίας 8 καὶ παρεγένοντο οἱ πέντε ἄνδρες πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν εἰς Σαραα καὶ Εσθαολ καὶ ἔλεγον αὐτοῖς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν τί ὑμεῖς κάθησθε 9 καὶ εἶπαν ἀνάστητε καὶ ἀναβῶμεν ἐ{P'} αὐτούς ὅτι εἰσήλθαμεν καὶ ἐνεπεριεπατήσαμεν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἕως Λαισα καὶ εἴδομεν τὸν λαὸν τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν αὐτῇ ἐν ἐλπίδι κατὰ τὸ σύγκριμα τῶν Σιδωνίων καὶ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντες ἐκ Σιδῶνος καὶ λόγος οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς μετὰ Συρίας ἀλλὰ ἀνάστητε καὶ ἀναβῶμεν ἐ{P'} αὐτούς ὅτι εὑρήκαμεν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀγαθὴ σφόδρα καὶ ὑμεῖς σιωπᾶτε μὴ ὀκνήσητε τοῦ πορευθῆναι τοῦ ἐλθεῖν καὶ κατακληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν 10 ἡνίκα ἂν εἰσέλθητε ἥξετε πρὸς λαὸν πεποιθότα καὶ ἡ γῆ εὐρύχωρος ὅτι παρέδωκεν αὐτὴν ὁ θεὸς ἐν χειρὶ ὑμῶν τόπος οὗ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκεῖ ὑστέρημα παντὸς ῥήματος ὅσα ἐν τῇ γῇ

7 So these men went on their way, and when they reached Lais, they found a city where men dwelt free from all alarms. This was the way of the Sidonian folk, to live tranquilly and at ease; no civil power restrained them, and they had great wealth. Lais, too, was at a distance from Sidon, and remote from all the world. 8 So, when they came home, and their fellow-tribesmen at Saraa and Esthaol asked them how they had sped, they answered, 9 Up, friends, to the attack! We have found lands both rich and fertile; we must not miss our opportunity by dallying here. March in and take possession; the task is light. 10 We can fall on them unawares, and the Lord will make us masters of their territory, broad lands, with no lack of anything earth yields.

7 Euntes igitur quinque viri venerunt Lais: videruntque populum habitantem in ea absque ullo timore, juxta consuetudinem Sidoniorum, securum et quietum, nullo ei penitus resistente, magnarumque opum, et procul a Sidone atque a cunctis hominibus separatum. 8 Reversique ad fratres suos in Saraa et Esthaol, et quid egissent sciscitantibus responderunt: 9 Surgite, ascendamus ad eos: vidimus enim terram valde opulentam et uberem. Nolite negligere, nolite cessare: eamus, et possideamus eam: nullus erit labor. 10 Intrabimus ad securos, in regionem latissimam, tradetque nobis Dominus locum, in quo nullius rei est penuria eorum quæ gignuntur in terra.

11 καὶ ἀπῆραν ἐκ συγγενείας τοῦ Δαν ἐκ Σαραα καὶ Εσθαολ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες περιεζωσμένοι σκεύη πολεμικά 12 καὶ ἀνέβησαν καὶ παρενεβάλοσαν ἐν Καριαθιαριμ ἐν Ιουδα διὰ τοῦτο ἐκλήθη τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ Παρεμβολὴ Δαν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἰδοὺ κατόπισθεν Καριαθιαριμ 13 παρῆλθαν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ ἦλθαν ἕως τοῦ ὄρους Εφραιμ καὶ ἦλθον ἕως οἴκου Μιχα 14 καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ πέντε ἄνδρες οἱ πορευόμενοι κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν εἰ οἴδατε ὅτι ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις τούτοις εφουδ καὶ θεραφιν καὶ γλυπτὸν καὶ χωνευτόν καὶ νῦν γνῶτε τί ποιήσετε 15 καὶ ἐξέκλιναν ἐκεῖ καὶ εἰσήλθοσαν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ παιδαρίου τοῦ Λευίτου εἰς τὸν οἶκον Μιχα καὶ ἠσπάσαντο αὐτόν 16 καὶ οἱ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες περιεζωσμένοι σκεύη πολεμικὰ ἐστηλωμένοι παρὰ τὴν θύραν τοῦ πυλῶνος οἱ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Δαν 17 καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ πέντε ἄνδρες οἱ πορευόμενοι κατασκέψασθαι τὴν γῆν ἐπελθόντες ἐκεῖ ἔλαβον τὸ γλυπτὸν καὶ τὸ εφουδ καὶ τὸ θεραφιν καὶ τὸ χωνευτόν καὶ ὁ ἱερεὺς ἐστηλωμένος παρὰ τῇ θύρᾳ τοῦ πυλῶνος καὶ οἱ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ περιεζωσμένοι σκεύη πολεμικά 18 καὶ οὗτοι εἰσῆλθον εἰς οἶκον Μιχα καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ γλυπτὸν καὶ τὸ εφουδ καὶ τὸ θεραφιν καὶ τὸ χωνευτόν καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὁ ἱερεύς τί ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε 19 καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν κώφευσον ἐπίθες τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα σου καὶ ἐλθὲ με{Q'} ἡμῶν καὶ ἔσῃ ἡμῖν εἰς πατέρα καὶ εἰς ἱερέα μὴ βέλτιον εἶναί σε ἱερέα οἴκου ἀνδρὸς ἑνὸς ἢ γίνεσθαί σε ἱερέα φυλῆς καὶ συγγενείας ἐν Ισραηλ 20 καὶ ἠγαθύνθη ἡ καρδία τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἔλαβεν τὸ εφουδ καὶ τὸ θεραφιν καὶ τὸ γλυπτὸν καὶ τὸ χωνευτὸν καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ

11 So six hundred men of Dan, from Saraa and Esthaol, marched out fully armed, 12 and made their first halt at Cariathiarim, in Juda, on the spot which has been called the Camp of Dan ever since, just west of Cariathiarim. 13 Thence they made their way into the hill-country of Ephraim; and when they reached the house of Michas, 14 the five men who had been sent on the mission to Lais said to their fellow-tribesmen, Do you know what we found in that house? A sacred mantle, and household deities, and a carved image with a sheath of metal. Look well to it what course you will take. 15 So they turned aside a little to visit the lodging of the young Levite that was priest in Michas’ household, and gave him friendly greeting. 16 Six hundred armed men stood at the door, 17 while those who had made their way into the young man’s lodging set about carrying off carved image, and mantle, and household deities, and metal sheath all together; and all the while the priest was in the doorway, with six hundred fighting men close by. 18 As they brought out these treasures one after another, the priest asked them what they would be at, 19 but they bade him keep his lips tight shut, and come with them. We will honour thee, they said, as father and priest. Wouldst thou rather be priest to one man’s household than to a whole tribe, a whole clan of Israel? 20 For the Levite, it was pleasant hearing enough; he took up mantle and household deities and image, and went off in their company.

11 Profecti igitur sunt de cognatione Dan, id est, de Saraa et Esthaol, sexcenti viri accincti armis bellicis, 12 ascendentesque manserunt in Cariathiarim Judæ: qui locus ex eo tempore Castrorum Dan nomen accepit, et est post tergum Cariathiarim. 13 Inde transierunt in montem Ephraim. Cumque venissent ad domum Michæ, 14 dixerunt quinque viri, qui prius missi fuerant ad considerandam terram Lais, ceteris fratribus suis: Nostis quod in domibus istis sit ephod, et theraphim, et sculptile, atque conflatile: videte quid vobis placeat. 15 Et cum paululum declinassent, ingressi sunt domum adolescentis Levitæ, qui erat in domo Michæ: salutaveruntque eum verbis pacificis. 16 Sexcenti autem viri ita ut erant armati, stabant ante ostium. 17 At illi, qui ingressi fuerant domum juvenis, sculptile, et ephod, et theraphim, atque conflatile tollere nitebantur, et sacerdos stabat ante ostium, sexcentis viris fortissimis haud procul expectantibus. 18 Tulerunt igitur qui intraverant sculptile, ephod, et idola, atque conflatile. Quibus dixit sacerdos: Quid facitis? 19 Cui responderunt: Tace et pone digitum super os tuum: venique nobiscum, ut habeamus te patrem, ac sacerdotem. Quid tibi melius est, ut sis sacerdos in domo unius viri, an in una tribu et familia in Israël? 20 Quod cum audisset, acquievit sermonibus eorum, et tulit ephod, et idola, ac sculptile, et profectus est cum eis.

21 καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν καὶ ἀπῆλθαν καὶ ἔταξαν τὴν πανοικίαν καὶ τὴν κτῆσιν αὐτοῦ τὴν ἔνδοξον ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν 22 αὐτῶν δὲ μεμακρυγκότων ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου Μιχα καὶ ἰδοὺ Μιχα καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ σὺν τῷ οἴκῳ μετὰ Μιχα ἔκραζον κατοπίσω υἱῶν Δαν 23 καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ υἱοὶ Δαν τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Μιχα τί ἐστίν σοι ὅτι ἔκραξας 24 καὶ εἶπεν Μιχα ὅτι τὸ γλυπτόν μου ὃ ἐποίησα ἐμαυτῷ ἐλάβετε καὶ τὸν ἱερέα καὶ ἀπήλθατε καὶ τί ἐμοὶ ἔτι καὶ τί τοῦτο λέγετέ μοι τί τοῦτο κράζεις 25 καὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ υἱοὶ Δαν μὴ ἀκουσθήτω δὴ ἡ φωνή σου με{Q'} ἡμῶν μήποτε ἀπαντήσωσιν ὑμῖν ἄνδρες κατώδυνοι ψυχῇ καὶ προσθήσεις τὴν ψυχήν σου καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν τοῦ οἴκου σου 26 καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Δαν εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῶν καὶ εἶδεν Μιχα ὅτι ἰσχυρότεροί εἰσιν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξένευσεν καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ

21 So on they went, with children and pack animals and stores travelling in front, 22 and were a long way from Michas’ house when they heard his men coming up behind them with a great hue and cry, 23 calling on them to halt. At that, they looked round and asked Michas what ailed him, what all the shouting meant. 24 You have robbed me, he answered, robbed me of the gods I made for myself, of my own priest, of all that I had, and you ask what ails me! 25 It were well, the children of Dan said, that we should hear no more of thy complaints. There might be some hot-heads among us would turn back to meet thee, and thou and thine would rue it! 26 With that, they went on their way, and Michas, who saw they were too strong for him, must betake himself home.

21 Qui cum pergerent, et ante se ire fecissent parvulos ac jumenta, et omne quod erat pretiosum, 22 et jam a domo Michæ essent procul, viri qui habitabant in ædibus Michæ conclamantes secuti sunt, 23 et post tergum clamare cœperunt. Qui cum respexissent, dixerunt ad Micham: Quid tibi vis? cur clamas? 24 Qui respondit: Deos meos, quos mihi feci, tulistis, et sacerdotem, et omnia quæ habeo, et dicitis: Quid tibi est? 25 Dixeruntque ei filii Dan: Cave ne ultra loquaris ad nos, et veniant ad te viri animo concitati, et ipse cum omni domo tua pereas. 26 Et sic cœpto itinere perrexerunt. Videns autem Michas quod fortiores se essent, reversus est in domum suam.

27 καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον ὅσα ἐποίησεν Μιχα καὶ τὸν ἱερέα ὃς ἦν αὐτῷ καὶ ἦλθον ἕως Λαισα ἐπὶ λαὸν ἡσυχάζοντα καὶ πεποιθότα καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτοὺς ἐν στόματι ῥομφαίας καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἐνέπρησαν 28 καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξαιρούμενος ὅτι μακράν ἐστιν ἀπὸ Σιδωνίων καὶ λόγος οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς μετὰ ἀνθρώπων καὶ αὐτὴ ἐν κοιλάδι ἥ ἐστιν τοῦ οἴκου Ροωβ καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν τὴν πόλιν καὶ κατῴκησαν ἐν αὐτῇ 29 καὶ ἐκάλεσαν τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως Δαν κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν ὃς ἐγενήθη τῷ Ισραηλ καὶ ἦν Λαις ὄνομα τῇ πόλει τὸ πρότερον 30 καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἑαυτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ Δαν τὸ γλυπτὸν Μιχα καὶ Ιωναθαν υἱὸς Γηρσωμ υἱοῦ Μωυσῆ αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἦσαν ἱερεῖς τῇ φυλῇ Δαν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας τῆς μετοικεσίας τῆς γῆς 31 καὶ ἔταξαν ἑαυτοῖς τὸ γλυπτὸν Μιχα ὃ ἐποίησεν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ὅσας ἦν ὁ οἶκος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν Σηλω

27 Taking the priest, then, with them, and the rest of their plunder aforesaid, the six hundred men reached Lais. There they found all the citizens living at ease, free from alarms, and they put them to the sword, burning down their city. 28 There was none to bring aid; they were far from Sidon, and with all the rest of the world fellowship and commerce they had none. It was in Rohob their city lay, and the men of Dan rebuilt it to make their home in it, 29 calling it Dan, after their ancestor that was Israel’s son, and Lais no longer. 30 And there they set up the image; the tribe of Dan had its own priests down to the day when it went into exile, descended from Moses’ son Gersam, and his son Jonathan. 31 All the time God’s house was at Silo, there in Dan stood Michas’ image. So it was in the old days, before a king ruled in Israel.

27 Sexcenti autem viri tulerunt sacerdotem, et quæ supra diximus: veneruntque in Lais ad populum quiescentem atque securum, et percusserunt eos in ore gladii: urbemque incendio tradiderunt, 28 nullo penitus ferente præsidium, eo quod procul habitarent a Sidone, et cum nullo hominum haberent quidquam societatis ac negotii. Erat autem civitas sita in regione Rohob: quam rursum exstruentes habitaverunt in ea, 29 vocato nomine civitatis Dan, juxta vocabulum patris sui, quem genuerat Israël, quæ prius Lais dicebatur. 30 Posueruntque sibi sculptile, et Jonathan filium Gersam filii Moysi ac filios ejus sacerdotes in tribu Dan, usque ad diem captivitatis suæ. 31 Mansitque apud eos idolum Michæ omni tempore quo fuit domus Dei in Silo. In diebus illis non erat rex in Israël.

Knox Translation Copyright © 2013 Westminster Diocese
Nihil Obstat. Father Anton Cowan, Censor.
Imprimatur. +Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. 8th January 2012.
Re-typeset and published in 2012 by Baronius Press Ltd