1 Kings 8
1 At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.
Khona uSolomoni wabuthanisa abadala bakoIsrayeli, zonke inhloko zezizwe, iziphathamandla zaboyise babantwana bakoIsrayeli, ukuya enkosini uSolomoni eJerusalema, ukuze benyuse umtshokotsho wesivumelwano sikaJehova bewukhupha emzini kaDavida, oyiZiyoni.
2 And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim.
Wonke amadoda akoIsrayeli asebuthana enkosini uSolomoni emkhosini enyangeni kaEthanimi eyinyanga yesikhombisa.
3 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,
Labo bonke abadala bakoIsrayeli beza, abapristi bawuphakamisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano,
4 and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up.
bawenyusa umtshokotsho weNkosi lethente lenhlangano, lazo zonke izitsha ezingcwele ezazisethenteni; abapristi lamaLevi bakwenyusa-ke.
5 There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
Njalo inkosi uSolomoni lenhlangano yonke yakoIsrayeli eyayibuthene babelayo phambi komtshokotsho behlaba izimvu lezinkabi ezingelanani lezingelakubalwa ngobunengi.
6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.
Abapristi basebewungenisa umtshokotsho wesivumelwano seNkosi endaweni yawo endaweni yelizwi yendlu, engcweleni yezingcwele, ngaphansi kwempiko zamakherubhi.
7 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.
Ngoba amakherubhi elulela impiko zawo phezu kwendawo yomtshokotsho, amakherubhi embesa umtshokotsho lemijabo yawo, kuvela phezulu.
8 The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.
Basebeselula imijabo ukuze izihloko zemijabo zibonakale endaweni engcwele phambi kwendawo yelizwi, kodwa yayingabonakali ngaphandle; njalo ikhona lapho kuze kube lamuhla.
9 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt.
Kwakungelalutho emtshokotshweni, ngaphandle kwezibhebhe zamatshe ezimbili uMozisi azifaka khona eHorebe mhla iNkosi isenza khona isivumelwano labantwana bakoIsrayeli ekuphumeni kwabo elizweni leGibhithe.
10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD
Kwasekusithi ekuphumeni kwabapristi endaweni engcwele iyezi layigcwalisa indlu yeNkosi;
11 so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
ngakho abapristi babengelakho ukuma ukuthi bakhonze ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo yeNkosi yayigcwalise indlu yeNkosi.
12 Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wathi: INkosi yathi izahlala emnyameni onzima.
13 I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”
Ngikwakhele lokukwakhela indlu, indawo yokuhlala, indawo emisiweyo yokuhlala kwakho laphakade.
14 And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all
Inkosi yasitshibilikisa ubuso bayo, yalibusisa ibandla lonke lakoIsrayeli; lebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli lalimi.
15 and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,
Yasisithi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, eyakhuluma ngomlomo wayo kuDavida ubaba, njalo yagcwalisa ngesandla sayo, isithi:
16 ‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
Kusukela ngosuku engakhupha ngalo abantu bami uIsrayeli elizweni leGibhithe kangikhethanga muzi ezizweni zonke zakoIsrayeli ukwakha indlu, ukuthi ibizo lami libe lapho, kodwa ngakhetha uDavida ukuthi abe phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli.
17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
Njalo kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavida ubaba ukwakhela ibizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli indlu.
18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.
Kodwa iNkosi yathi kuDavida ubaba: Njengoba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela ibizo lami indlu, wenze kuhle ukuthi kwakusenhliziyweni yakho;
19 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’
loba kunjalo kawuyikuyakha indlu wena, kodwa indodana yakho ezaphuma ekhalweni lwakho, yona izalakhela ibizo lami indlu.
20 Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
INkosi isiqinisile ilizwi layo eyalikhulumayo, ngoba ngivukile esikhundleni sikaDavida ubaba, ngihlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli njengokuba iNkosi ikhulumile, sengilakhele ibizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli indlu.
21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
Njalo ngimisile lapho indawo yomtshokotsho, lapho okulesivumelwano seNkosi khona, eyasenza labobaba ekubakhupheni kwayo elizweni leGibhithe.
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,
USolomoni wasesima phambi kwelathi leNkosi maqondana lebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli, welulela izandla zakhe emazulwini,
23 and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
wathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, kakho unkulunkulu onjengawe emazulwini phezulu lemhlabeni phansi ogcina isivumelwano lomusa ezincekwini zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngenhliziyo yazo yonke.
24 You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day.
Ogcinele inceku yakho uDavida ubaba lokho owakutsho kuye; njalo wakhuluma ngomlomo wakho, wakugcwalisa ngesandla sakho, njengalamuhla.
25 Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’
Ngakho-ke, Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, gcinela inceku yakho uDavida ubaba owakukhuluma kuye, usithi: Kakuyikusweleka muntu kuwe phambi kwami ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli, kuphela uba amadodana akho egcina indlela yawo ukuhamba phambi kwami njengoba uhambile phambi kwami.
26 And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David.
Khathesi-ke, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ake liqiniseke ilizwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho uDavida ubaba.
27 But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
Kodwa isibili uNkulunkulu uzahlala yini emhlabeni? Khangela, amazulu, lamazulu amazulu angekwanele; incinyane kangakanani-ke lindlu engiyakhileyo?
28 Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today.
Kube kanti phendukela emkhulekweni wenceku yakho lekuncengeni kwayo, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ukuze uzwe ukukhala lomkhuleko inceku yakho ewukhulekayo phambi kwakho lamuhla.
29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place.
Ukuthi amehlo akho avulekele lindlu ebusuku lemini, indawo owatsho ngayo ukuthi: Ibizo lami lizakuba lapho; ukuze uzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho ezawukhuleka kulindawo.
30 Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.
Zwana-ke ukuncenga kwenceku yakho lokwabantu bakho uIsrayeli lapho bezakhuleka kulindawo; yebo, uzwe wena, usendaweni yakho yokuhlala emazulwini; lapho usizwa, uthethelele.
31 When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple,
Uba loba nguwuphi umuntu one umakhelwane wakhe, abeke phezu kwakhe isifungo, amenze afunge, lesifungo size phambi kwelathi lakho kulindlu,
32 then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, wenze wahlulele inceku zakho, ulahle omubi, ukunikela indlela yakhe ekhanda lakhe, ukulungisisa olungileyo, ukumnika njengokulunga kwakhe.
33 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple,
Lapho abantu bakho uIsrayeli betshaywe phambi kwesitha ngoba bonile kuwe, babesebephendukela kuwe, balivume ibizo lakho, bakhuleke bancenge kuwe kulindlu,
34 then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers.
zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika oyise.
35 When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,
Lapho amazulu evaliwe, kungelazulu ngoba bonile kuwe, uba bekhuleka kulindawo belivuma ibizo lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo lapho ubahluphile,
36 then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.
zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, uthethelele isono senceku zakho lesabantu bakho uIsrayeli, lapho usubafundisile indlela elungileyo abangahamba ngayo, unike izulu elizweni lakho owalinika abantu bakho libe yilifa.
37 When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come,
Uba kukhona indlala elizweni, uba kukhona umatshayabhuqe wesifo, ukutshisa, ingumane, isikhonyane, uba kulemihogoyi; uba isitha sabo sibavimbezele elizweni lemizi yabo, loba yiyiphi inhlupheko, loba yiwuphi umkhuhlane,
38 then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—
wonke umkhuleko, konke ukuncenga, okwenziwa yiloba nguwuphi umuntu, ngabantu bakho bonke bakoIsrayeli, abazakwazi ngulowo inhlupheko yenhliziyo yakhe, eselula izandla zakhe kulindlu,
39 be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—
zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala emisiweyo, uthethelele, wenze, unike ngulowo njengezindlela zakhe zonke, onhliziyo yakhe uyayazi, ngoba nguwe wedwa owaziyo inhliziyo yabo bonke abantwana babantu,
40 so that they may fear You all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.
ukuze bakwesabe zonke izinsuku abaziphila ebusweni belizwe owalinika obaba.
41 And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name—
Futhi-ke mayelana lowezizweni ongesuye wabantu bakho uIsrayeli kodwa evela elizweni elikhatshana ngenxa yebizo lakho,
42 for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,
(ngoba bazakuzwa ngebizo lakho elikhulu langesandla sakho esilamandla langengalo yakho eyeluliweyo) uba esiza akhuleke kulindlu,
43 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
zwana wena usemazulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala emisiweyo, wenze njengakho konke owezizweni akubizela khona, ukuze izizwe zonke zomhlaba zazi ibizo lakho, zikwesabe, njengabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ukuze zazi ukuthi ibizo lakho libiziwe phezu kwale indlu engiyakhileyo.
44 When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name,
Uba abantu bakho bephuma impi bemelene lesitha sabo ngendlela obathuma ngayo, babesebekhuleka eNkosini bekhangele emzini owukhethileyo lendlini engiyakhele ibizo lakho,
45 then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause.
zwana-ke usemazulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, wenze udaba lwabo.
46 When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,
Uba besona kuwe, ngoba kakulamuntu ongoniyo, ubusubathukuthelela, ubanikele esitheni, ukuze abathumbi babo babathumbele elizweni lesitha, khatshana kumbe eduze,
47 and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’
kodwa babuye enhliziyweni yabo elizweni abathunjelwe kilo, baphenduke, bancenge kuwe elizweni lababathumbileyo, besithi: Sonile, saphambeka, senza okubi;
48 and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name,
babuyele kuwe ngenhliziyo yonke yabo langomphefumulo wonke wabo elizweni lezitha zabo ezibathumbileyo, bakhuleke kuwe bekhangele elizweni labo owalinika oyise, umuzi owawukhethayo, lendlu engiyakhele ibizo lakho,
49 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause.
zwana-ke usemazulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, endaweni yakho yokuhlala, ubamele.
50 May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy.
Uthethelele abantu bakho abone kuwe, leziphambeko zabo zonke, abaphambeke ngazo kuwe, ubaphe isihawu phambi kwababathumbileyo, ukuthi babe lesihawu kibo,
51 For they are Your people and Your inheritance; You brought them out of Egypt, out of the furnace for iron.
ngoba bayisizwe sakho, lelifa lakho owabakhupha eGibhithe, phakathi kwesithando sensimbi.
52 May Your eyes be open to the pleas of Your servant and of Your people Israel, and may You listen to them whenever they call to You.
Ukuze amehlo akho avulekele ukuncenga kwenceku yakho lokuncenga kwabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ukubezwa kukho konke ukukhala kwabo kuwe.
53 For You, O Lord GOD, as Your inheritance, have set them apart from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke through Your servant Moses when You brought our fathers out of Egypt.”
Ngoba wena wazehlukanisela bona babe yilifa bevela kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba, njengokukhuluma kwakho ngesandla sikaMozisi, inceku yakho, ekukhupheni kwakho obaba eGibhithe, Nkosi Jehova.
54 Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
Kwasekusithi eseqedile uSolomoni ukukhuleka wonke lo umkhuleko lokuncenga eNkosini, wasukuma esuka ngaphambi kwelathi leNkosi ekuguqeni ngamadolo akhe lezandla zakhe zelulekele emazulwini,
55 And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:
wasesima wabusisa ibandla lonke lakoIsrayeli ngelizwi elikhulu esithi:
56 “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.
Kayibusiswe iNkosi enike abantu bayo uIsrayeli ukuphumula njengakho konke eyakukhulumayo; kakuwanga lelilodwa ilizwi kuwo wonke amazwi ayo eyawakhuluma ngesandla sikaMozisi inceku yayo.
57 May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us nor forsake us.
INkosi uNkulunkulu wethu kayibe lathi njengalokhu yayilabobaba, ingasitshiyi ingasideli,
58 May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.
ukuze ithobele inhliziyo yethu kuyo, ukuhamba ngazo zonke indlela zayo, lokugcina imilayo yayo lezimiso zayo lezahlulelo zayo, eyakulaya obaba.
59 And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He may uphold the cause of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires,
Lala amazwi ami, engincenga ngawo phambi kweNkosi, abe seduzane leNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu emini lebusuku, ukuze imele udaba lwenceku yayo lodaba lwabantu bayo uIsrayeli, udaba losuku ngosuku lwalo,
60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other!
ukuze izizwe zonke zomhlaba zazi ukuthi iNkosi inguNkulunkulu, kakho omunye.
61 So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”
Ngakho inhliziyo yenu kayibe ngepheleleyo kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, ukuhamba ezimisweni zayo, lokugcina imilayo yayo njengalamuhla.
62 Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD.
Inkosi loIsrayeli wonke elayo basebehlaba umhlatshelo phambi kukaJehova.
63 And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD.
USolomoni wasehlaba umhlatshelo weminikelo yokuthula awuhlabela uJehova, inkabi ezizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lambili, lezimvu ezizinkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi amabili. Ngokunjalo inkosi labo bonke abantwana bakoIsrayeli bayehlukanisa indlu kaJehova.
64 On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to contain all these offerings.
Ngalona lolosuku inkosi yangcwelisa iphakathi leguma elalingaphambi kwendlu kaJehova, ngoba lapho yanikela umnikelo wokutshiswa lomnikelo wokudla, lamahwahwa eminikelo yokuthula, ngoba ilathi lethusi elaliphambi kukaJehova lalilincinyane kakhulu ukwanela umnikelo wokutshiswa lomnikelo wokudla lamahwahwa eminikelo yokuthula.
65 So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast before the LORD our God for seven days and seven more days—fourteen days in all.
Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wasesenza idili, loIsrayeli wonke laye, ibandla elikhulu, kusukela ekungeneni kweHamathi kusiya esifuleni seGibhithe, phambi kweNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, insuku eziyisikhombisa lensuku eziyisikhombisa, insuku ezilitshumi lane.
66 On the fifteenth day Solomon sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things that the LORD had done for His servant David and for His people Israel.
Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili wabayekela abantu bahamba; bayibusisa inkosi, baya emathenteni abo bethokoza bejabula enhliziyweni ngakho konke okuhle iNkosi eyayikwenzele uDavida inceku yayo loIsrayeli abantu bayo.
