2 Ihe E Mere 6
1 Mgbe ahụ, Solomọn sịrị, “Onyenwe anyị ekwuola na ọ ga-ebi nʼoke igwe ojii.
Then Solomon said, “Yahweh, you said that you would live in a dark cloud.
2 Ma ewuola m ụlọnsọ pụrụ iche, maa mma nye gị, ebe ị ga-ebi ruo mgbe ebighị ebi!”
But now I have built a glorious temple for you to live in forever!”
3 Dịka ọgbakọ Izrel niile na-eguzo nʼebe ahụ, eze chigharịrị onwe ya chee ha ihu, gọzie ha.
Then while all the people stood there, Solomon turned toward the people and he [asked God to] bless them.
4 Mgbe ahụ ọ sịrị, “Otuto dịrị Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke Izrel. Onye ji aka ya abụọ mezuo nkwa ahụ o ji ọnụ ya kwee nna m Devid. Nʼihi na o kwuru sị,
He said to them, “Praise Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelis belong, who has caused to happen what he promised to my father David. What he said to David was this:
5 ‘Site nʼụbọchị ahụ m si nʼala Ijipt kpọpụta ndị m, ahọpụtaghị m obodo ọbụla nʼebo ọbụla nke Izrel, ka e wuru m ụlọnsọ ka Aha m dịrị nʼebe ahụ, maọbụ họpụta onye ọbụla ka ọ bụrụ onyendu ndị m Izrel.
‘From the time that I brought my people out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city in Israel in which a temple should be built for people to [worship] me there. Nor did I choose anyone to be the leader of my Israeli people.
6 Ma ugbu a, a họrọla m Jerusalem ka ọ bụrụ ebe Aha m ga-adị, ahọrọkwala m Devid ị bụ onye ga-achị ndị m Izrel.’
But now I have chosen Jerusalem to be the place for people to worship me, and I have chosen you to rule my Israeli people.’”
7 “Nna m, Devid bu nʼobi iwu ụlọnsọ ukwu nye Aha Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke nke Izrel.
[Then Solomon said], “My father David wanted to build a temple for Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelis belong.
8 Ma Onyenwe anyị sịrị nna m, Devid, ‘I mere nke ọma ibu nʼobi, iwu ụlọnsọ ukwu nye Aha m.
But Yahweh said to him, ‘You have wanted to build a temple for me, and what you wanted to do was good.
9 Ma otu ọ dị, ọ bụghị gị ga-ewu ya, kama nwa gị nwoke nke si nʼahụ gị pụta ga-ewu ụlọnsọ ahụ nye Aha m.’
However, you are not the one who I want to build the temple; it is one of your own sons who [I want to] build a temple for me.’
10 “Ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị emezuola nkwa ahụ o kwere. A nọchiela m nna Devid, ana m anọdụ nʼocheeze nke Izrel dịka Onyenwe anyị kwere na nkwa. Ewuokwala m ụlọnsọ ukwu nye Aha Onyenwe anyị, bụ Chineke nke Izrel.
“And Yahweh has done what he promised to do. I have become the king of Israel to succeed my father, and I am ruling the people, like Yahweh promised, and I have arranged for this temple to be built for us to worship Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelis belong.
11 Nʼebe ahụ ka m dọbara igbe ọgbụgba ndụ, nʼime ya ka ọgbụgba Onyenwe anyị dị, bụ nke ya na ụmụ Izrel gbara.”
I have put the Sacred Chest in the temple, in which are the stone tablets [on which are engraved the Ten Commandments of] the agreement that Yahweh made with us Israeli people.”
12 Mgbe ahụ, Solomọn guzoro nʼihu ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị, na nʼihu ọgbakọ ụmụ Izrel niile, gbasapụ aka ya abụọ.
Then Solomon stood in front of the altar which was in front of the people of Israel who had gathered there.
13 Solomọn ji bronz kpụọ ihe nrigoro ịnọ gwa ọha mmadụ okwu. Ogologo ihe nrigoro ahụ, obosara ya ruru mita abụọ na ọkara mita abụọ na ọkara. Ịdị elu ya ruru otu mita na ọkara. O debere ya nʼetiti ebe mpụta nke ogige ụlọnsọ ukwu ahụ. O guzoro nʼelu ihe nrigo ahụ, nʼihu ọgbakọ Izrel niile, gbuo ikpere nʼala, gbasaa aka ya abụọ chilie ha elu.
His workers had built a bronze platform there [for him to stand on], which was 7-1/2 feet long and 7-1/2 feet wide and 4-1/2 feet high. They put it in the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on that platform and then knelt down in front of all the people of Israel who had gathered there, and he spread out his arms toward heaven,
14 Ọ sịrị, “Onyenwe anyị, Chineke nke Izrel, ọ dịghị Chineke dịka gị nʼeluigwe maọbụ nʼụwa. Gị onye na-edebe ọgbụgba ndụ ịhụnanya gị na ndị ohu gị, bụ ndị ji obi ha niile na-eso ụzọ gị.
and he prayed, “Yahweh, the God to whom we Israeli people belong, there is no God like you in heaven or on the earth. You solemnly promised that you would faithfully love us, and that is what you have done for us who earnestly do what you want us to do.
15 I mezuokwala nkwa niile i kwere nna m Devid, bụ ohu gị. I ji ọnụ gị kwee nkwa a, ma taa, i jirila aka gị mezuo ya.
“You have done the things that you promised my father David, who served you [very well], that you would do. Truly, you promised to do those things for him, and today we see that by your power you have caused it all to happen.
16 “Ugbu a, O! Onyenwe anyị, Chineke nke Izrel, mezukwaa nkwa niile i kwere Devid nna m, mgbe ị sịrị, ‘Ọ bụrụ na ụmụ ụmụ gị elezie anya bie ndụ dịka iwu m si dị nʼihu m, nʼihe niile ha na-eme, dịka gị onwe gị mere, agaghị achọ onye ga-anọ nʼihu nʼocheeze Izrel nʼime ha.’
“So now, Yahweh, the God we Israelis belong to, please do the things that you promised to my father David that you would do. You said that there would always be some of his descendants to rule Israel, if they faithfully conduct their lives as he did.
17 Ma ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke nke Izrel, ka okwu gị, bụ nkwa nke i kwere ohu gị Devid bịa na mmezu.
So now, God of us Israeli people, cause what you promised David, who served you [well], to happen.
18 “Ma ọ bụ ezie na Chineke ga-ebinyere ụmụ mmadụ nʼelu ụwa? Lee, eluigwe, ọbụladị ebe kachasị elu nke eluigwe ezughị ịba gị. Olee otu ụlọ a nke m wuru ga-esi bata gị!
“But, my God, will you really live on earth among people? There is surely not enough space for you in the sky, or even in the heaven! So there is surely not enough space for you to live in this temple that my workers have built.
19 Ma Onyenwe anyị Chineke m, ṅaa ntị nʼekpere ohu gị, na arịrịọ ọ na-arịọ maka ebere. Nụrụ akwa na ekpere nke ohu gị na-ekpe nʼihu gị.
But Yahweh, my God, please listen to my prayer, while I am pleading with you this day and do what I am requesting.
20 Biko, mee ka anya gị abụọ ghere oghe nʼebe ụlọnsọ ukwu a dị, ehihie na nʼabalị, bụ ebe a i kwuru sị, na i ga-akpọkwasị Aha gị nʼebe ahụ. Biko, ka ị nụrụ ekpere ohu gị ga-ekpe banyere ebe a.
Please protect this temple day and night. This is the place about which you have said, ‘I will always be there.’ Please listen to my prayer about this place.
21 Nụrụkwa arịrịọ niile nke ohu gị na nke ndị gị Izrel niile, mgbe ọbụla ha chere ihu ha nʼebe a nʼekpere. Biko, site nʼeluigwe bụ ebe obibi gị nụrụ, mgbe ị nụrụ biko, gbagharakwa.
Listen to me when I pray, and listen to your Israeli people when they pray. Listen from heaven, where you live; and when you hear us pray, forgive us.
22 “Mgbe onye ọbụla mehiere mmadụ ibe ya, a kpọọ ya oku ka ọ bịa ṅụọ iyi, onye dị otu a bịa guzo nʼebe a, nʼihu ebe ịchụ aja gị a, ṅụọ iyi ahụ,
“If someone is accused of doing something wrong to another person, and they bring him to testify in front of your altar outside this holy temple, and if he says, ‘I did not do that; may God punish me if I am not telling the truth,’
23 mgbe ahụ, nụrụ olu ya nʼeluigwe ma mee ihe ziri ezi, kpeekwa ikpe nʼetiti ndị ohu gị. Maa onye mejọrọ ikpe site nʼịtụkwasị nʼisi ha ihe o metara, meekwa ka onye aka ya dị ọcha nwere onwe ya, site nʼimeso ha dịka ezi omume ha si dị.
then you listen from heaven, and you decide who is telling the truth. Then punish the person who is guilty as he deserves to be punished, and declare that the other person is innocent.
24 “Mgbe ndị iro meriri ndị gị Izrel, nʼihi na ha mehiere megide gị, ọ bụrụ na ha alọghachite, too aha gị, na-ekpe ekpere, na-arịọ arịrịọ nʼihu gị nʼụlọnsọ ukwu a,
“And when your Israeli people are defeated by their enemies because they sinned against you, [and forced to go to some distant country, ] if they turn away from their sinful behavior and turn toward this temple and admit [that] you [have justly punished them], and plead [that you will forgive them],
25 biko, site nʼeluigwe nụrụ ekpere ha, gbaghara mmehie ndị gị Izrel. Meekwa ka ha lọghachita nʼala ahụ nke i nyere ha na nna nna ha.
listen to them from heaven and forgive your Israeli people for the sins that they [have committed], and bring them back to this land that you gave to our ancestors.
26 “Mgbe e gbochiri eluigwe, mee na mmiri adịghị ezokwa, nʼihi na ndị gị emehiela megide gị, ọ bụrụ na ha echee ihu nʼebe a kpee ekpere, too aha gị, si na mmehie ha chegharịa, nʼihi na ịtaala ha ahụhụ,
“When you do not allow any rain to fall because your people have sinned against you, if they turn toward this temple and admit [that] you [have justly punished them], and turn away from their sinful behavior and humbly pray to you,
27 biko, site nʼeluigwe nụrụ ma gbagharakwa mmehie ndị ohu gị, ndị gị Izrel. Kuziere ha ezi ụzọ ha ga-esi bie ndụ ma zidata mmiri ozuzo nʼala ahụ nke i nyere ndị gị ka ọ bụrụ ihe nketa ha.
hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your Israeli people. Teach them the right way to conduct their lives. Then cause it to rain here on the land that you gave to your people to belong to them [permanently].
28 “Mgbe ụnwụ, maọbụ ajọ ọrịa na-efe efe ga-adakwasị ala a, maọbụ ọrịa na-eripịa ihe ubi, maọbụ ọmụma ebu; maọbụ igurube, maọbụ ụkpana, maọbụ mgbe ndị iro ga-anọchibido ha nʼobodo ha niile, ihe mbibi niile maọbụ ọrịa ọbụla,
“And when the people of this land experience famines or if there is a plague, or when their crops are destroyed by very hot winds or by mildew or by locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemies surround any of their cities [in order to attack them], if any of those bad things happen to them,
29 ekpere ọbụla maọbụ arịrịọ nke onye ọbụla nʼetiti ndị gị Izrel kpere ma rịọọ, nʼihi ịghọta ihe otiti na ihe mgbu niile, ha gbasapụ aka ha, ma chee ihu ha nʼebe ụlọnsọ ukwu dị;
when your Israeli people earnestly plead with you, knowing in their inner beings that they are suffering [because they have sinned], if they stretch out their hands toward this temple and pray,
30 mgbe ahụ, site nʼeluigwe bụ ebe obibi gị nụrụ arịrịọ ha. Gbaghara ma meekwa; mesoo onye ọbụla dịka ihe niile ha na-eme si dị, ebe ọ bụ na ị maara obi ha niile (nʼihi na naanị gị maara obi ụmụ mmadụ),
hear from your home in heaven, and forgive them. You alone know what each person is thinking, so reward each person according to everything that he does,
31 ka ha tụọ egwu gị, jeekwa ije nʼirubere gị isi nʼoge niile ha na-ebi nʼala ahụ nke i nyere nna nna anyị ha.
in order that they will revere you and conduct their lives as you want them to, all the time that they live in this land that you gave to our ancestors.
32 “Ma banyere onye mba ọzọ, onye na-esonyeghị na ndị gị Izrel, kama o si nʼala ebe dị anya bịa nʼihi ukwu gị, nʼaka gị dị ike na ogwe aka gị e setipụrụ esetipụ. Mgbe ha bịara kpee ekpere nʼụlọnsọ a,
“There will be some foreigners who do not belong to your Israeli people who have come here from countries far away because they have heard that you are very great and that you perform great miracles. If they turn toward this temple and pray,
33 mgbe ahụ, site nʼeluigwe ebe obibi gị nụrụ arịrịọ ha. Mekwaa ihe niile nke onye mba ọzọ ahụ na-arịọ nʼekpere, ka ndị niile nke ụwa mara aha gị, tụọkwa egwu gị, dịka ndị nke gị bụ Izrel na-eme. Ka ha matakwa na-akpọkwasịrị Aha gị nʼụlọ a nke m wuru.
from your home in heaven listen to their prayer, and do for them what they request you to do. Do that in order that all the people-groups in the world will know about you and revere you, like we, your own Israeli people do. And then they will know that this is the temple that I have caused to be built for you.
34 “Mgbe ndị gị ga-aga ibu agha megide ndị iro ha, nʼebe ọbụla ị na-eziga ha, mgbe ha chere ihu ha nʼụzọ obodo a nke ị họpụtara na nʼụlọnsọ ukwu a m wuru nye Aha gị, kpee ekpere,
“When you send your people to go to places to attack their enemies, if they pray to you, wherever they are, if they turn toward this city that you have chosen and toward this temple that I have caused to be built to honor you,
35 mgbe ahụ, site nʼeluigwe nụrụ ekpere na arịrịọ amara ha, mezukwa ihe ha na-arịọ.
listen in heaven to their prayers; listen to what they plead for you [to do], and assist them.
36 “Mgbe ha mehiere megide gị, nʼihi na ọ dịghị mmadụ ọbụla na-adịghị emehie, ị wee iwe megide ha, rara ha nyefee nʼaka ndị iro, ndị ga-adọkpụrụ ha nʼagha gaa nʼobodo ọzọ, maọbụ obodo dị anya maọbụ nke dị nso;
[“It is true that] everyone sins. So, when your people sin against you, and you become angry with them, you may allow their enemies to capture them and take them to their countries, even to countries that are far away.
37 ọ bụrụ na ha anọrọ nʼala ahụ a dọkpụrụ ha gaa, chegharịa nʼobi ha, nọrọ nʼala ebe a dọtara ha nʼagha, rịọọ gị, sị, ‘Anyị emehiela, anyị emeela ihe nʼadịghị mma, meekwa ajọ omume.’
When that happens, while they are in the countries to which they were forced to go, if they are sorry for having sinned, if they say, ‘We have sinned; we have done things that are wrong and have done things that are very wicked,’
38 Ọ bụrụ na ha ejiri obi ha na mmụọ ha niile chegharịa, nʼala ebe ndọta nʼagha ha, bụ ebe a kpọrọ ha gaa, ma kpee ekpere nye gị chee ihu ha nʼụzọ ala a nke i nyere nna nna ha, nʼobodo a nke ị họpụtara, ya na nʼụlọnsọ ukwu a m wuru nye Aha gị
if they repent very sincerely, and if they turn toward this land that you gave to our ancestors, and toward this city that you have chosen [to be the place where we should worship you], and toward this temple that I have caused to be built for you and pray,
39 mgbe ahụ, site nʼeluigwe, ebe obibi gị, nụrụ ekpere ha na arịrịọ ha niile, nyekwara ha aka. Gbaghara ndị gị, bụ ndị mehiere megide gị.
then from your home in heaven hear their prayer, and listen to them while they plead [for your help], and do what they ask you to do, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 “Ugbu a, Chineke m, biko ka anya gị na ntị gị ghere oghe nʼekpere niile a na-ekpe nʼebe a.
“Now, my God, look at us and listen to us as we pray to you in this place.
41 “Ma ugbu a, bilie, O Onyenwe anyị Chineke, bata nʼebe izuike gị,
Yahweh our God, come and stay in this place with the Sacred Chest, the chest that shows that you are powerful. Yahweh God, cause your priests to know clearly that you have blessed them. Cause us your people to rejoice because of all the good things [that you do for us].
42 O Onyenwe anyị Chineke, agbakụtala onye gị e tere mmanụ azụ.
Yahweh God, do not reject me [the king] whom you have appointed [to be the king of Israel]; do not forget that you greatly loved David, who served you [very well].”
