I Regum 8

1 Tunc congregati sunt omnes maiores natu Israel cum principibus tribuum, et duces familiarum filiorum Israel ad regem Salomonem in Ierusalem: ut deferrent arcam foederis Domini, de civitate David, id est, de Sion.

Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem all the elders of Israel, all the leaders of the tribes, and the leaders of the clans. He wanted them to join in bringing Yahweh’s Sacred Chest from Zion [Hill to the temple], where it was in the part of the city called ‘The City of David’.

2 Convenitque ad regem Salomonem universus Israel in mense Bethanim, in sollemni die, ipse est mensis septimus.

So all the Israeli leaders came to King Solomon during the Festival of [Living in Temporary] Shelters, in October.

3 Veneruntque cuncti senes de Israel, et tulerunt arcam sacerdotes,

When they had all arrived, the priests lifted up the Sacred Chest

4 et portaverunt arcam Domini, et tabernaculum foederis, et omnia vasa Sanctuarii, quae erant in tabernaculo: et ferebant ea sacerdotes et Levitae.

and brought it to the temple. The descendants of Levi [who assisted the priests] helped them to carry to the temple the Sacred Tent and all the sacred things that had been in the tent.

5 Rex autem Salomon, et omnis multitudo Israel, quae convenerat ad eum, gradiebatur cum illo ante arcam, et immolabant oves et boves absque aestimatione et numero.

Then King Solomon and many of the Israeli people who had gathered in front of Yahweh’s Sacred Chest sacrificed a huge amount of sheep and oxen. No one was able to count the sacrifices [because there were so many].

6 Et intulerunt sacerdotes arcam foederis Domini in locum suum, in oraculum templi, in Sanctum sanctorum subter alas cherubim.

The the priests then brought the Sacred Chest into the Very Holy Place in the temple, and they placed it under the wings of the [statues of the] winged creatures.

7 Siquidem cherubim expandebant alas super locum arcae, et protegebant arcam, et vectes eius desuper.

The wings of those statues spread out over the Sacred Chest and over the poles by which it was carried.

8 Cumque eminerent vectes, et apparerent summitates eorum foris Sanctuarium ante oraculum, non apparebant ultra extrinsecus, qui et fuerunt ibi usque in praesentem diem.

The poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen [by people who were standing] at the entrance to the Most Holy Place, but they could not be seen [by people standing] outside the temple. Those poles are still there.

9 In arca autem non erat aliud nisi duae tabulae lapideae, quas posuerat in ea Moyses in Horeb, quando pepigit Dominus foedus cum filiis Israel, cum egrederentur de Terra Aegypti.

The only things that were in the Sacred Chest were the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Sinai [Mountain], where Yahweh made an agreement with the people after they left Egypt.

10 Factum est autem, cum exissent sacerdotes de Sanctuario, nebula implevit domum Domini,

When the priests came out of the temple, [suddenly] it was filled with a cloud.

11 et non poterant sacerdotes stare et ministrare propter nebulam: impleverat enim gloria Domini domum Domini.

It was the glory/radiance of Yahweh that filled the temple, with the result that the priests were not able to continue their work.

12 Tunc ait Salomon: Dominus dixit ut habitaret in nebula.

Then Solomon prayed this: “Yahweh, you have placed the sun in the sky, but you have decided that you would live in very dark [clouds].

13 Aedificans aedificavi domum in habitaculum tuum, firmissimum solium tuum in sempiternum.

I have built for you a magnificent temple, a place for you to live in forever.”

14 Convertitque rex faciem suam, et benedixit omni ecclesiae Israel: omnia enim ecclesia Israel stabat.

Then, while all the people stood there, the king turned around and faced them, and he [asked God to] bless them.

15 Et ait Salomon: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, qui locutus est ore suo ad David patrem meum, et in manibus eius perfecit, dicens:

He said, “Praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis belong! By his own power he has done what he promised to give to my father David. What he promised was this:

16 A die, qua eduxi populum meum Israel de Aegypto, non elegi civitatem de universis tribubus Israel, ut aedificaretur domus, et esset nomen meum ibi: sed elegi David ut esset super populum meum Israel.

‘From the time that I brought my people out of Egypt, I have never chosen any city in Israel in which a temple should be built for my people to worship me there. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.”

17 Voluitque David pater meus aedificare domum nomini Domini Dei Israel:

[Then Solomon said], “My father David wanted to build a temple in order that we Israeli people could worship Yahweh our God there.

18 et ait Dominus ad David patrem meum: Quod cogitasti in corde tuo aedificare domum nomini meo, bene fecisti, hoc ipsum mente tractans.

But Yahweh said to him, ‘You have wanted to build a temple for me, and what you wanted to do was good.

19 Verumtamen tu non aedificabis mihi domum, sed filius tuus, qui egredietur de renibus tuis, ipse aedificabit domum nomini meo.

However, you are not the one [who I want] to build it. It is one of your sons, who [I want to] build a temple for me.’

20 Confirmavit Dominus sermonem suum, quem locutus est: stetique pro David patre meo, et sedi super thronum Israel, sicut locutus est Dominus: et aedificavi domum nomini Domini Dei Israel.

And now Yahweh has done what he promised to do. I have become the king of Israel to succeed my father, and I am ruling my people, like Yahweh promised. I have [arranged for] this temple [to be] built for us Israelis to worship Yahweh, the God, to whom we Israelis belong.

21 Et constitui ibi locum arcae, in qua foedus Domini est, quod percussit cum patribus nostris, quando egressi sunt de Terra Aegypti.

I have also provided a place [in the temple] for the Sacred Chest in which are the two stone tablets [on which are engraved the Ten Commandments of] the agreement that Yahweh made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”

22 Stetit autem Salomon ante altare Domini in conspectu ecclesiae Israel, et expandit manus suas in caelum,

Then Solomon stood in front of the altar which was facing the Israeli people who had gathered there. He spread out his arms toward heaven,

23 et ait: Domine Deus Israel, non est similis tui Deus in caelo desuper, et super terram deorsum: qui custodis pactum et misericordiam servis tuis, qui ambulant coram te in toto corde suo.

and he prayed, “Yahweh, the God whom we Israeli people [belong to/worship], there is no god like you up in heaven or down here 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.

24 Qui custodisti servo tuo David patri meo quae locutus es ei: ore locutus es, et manibus perfecisti, ut haec dies probat.

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 these things for him, and today we see that by your power you have done them.

25 Nunc igitur Domine Deus Israel, conserva famulo tuo David patri meo quae locutus es ei, dicens: Non auferetur de te vir coram me, qui sedeat super thronum Israel: ita tamen si custodierint filii tui viam suam, ut ambulent coram me sicut tu ambulasti in conspectu meo.

So now, Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [belong to/worship], please do the things that you promised my father that you would do. You told him that there would always be some of his descendants who would rule Israel, if they would conduct their lives as he did.

26 Et nunc Domine Deus Israel firmentur verba tua, quae locutus es servo tuo David patri meo.

So now, God of us Israeli people, cause what you promised to do for my father David, who served you [well], to happen.

27 Ergone putandum est quod vere Deus habitet super terram? si enim caelum, et caeli caelorum te capere non possunt, quanto magis domus haec, quam aedificavi?

But God, you cannot really live on the earth. 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.

28 Sed respice ad orationem servi tui, et ad preces eius Domine Deus meus: audi hymnum et orationem, quam servus tuus orat coram te hodie:

But Yahweh, my God, please listen to me while I am praying to you this day,

29 ut sint oculi tui aperti super domum hanc nocte ac die: super domum, de qua dixisti: Erit nomen meum ibi: ut exaudias orationem, quam orat in loco isto ad te servus tuus.

Please keep protecting this temple night and day. This is the place about which you have said, ‘I will always be there.’ I request that you listen to me whenever I turn toward this temple and pray.

30 Ut exaudias deprecationem servi tui et populi tui Israel, quodcumque oraverint in loco isto, et exaudies in loco habitaculi tui in caelo, et cum exaudieris, propitius eris.

I request that when I pray to you and your people pray to you while they turn toward this place, that in your home in heaven you will hear us and forgive us [for the sins that we have committed].

31 Si peccaverit homo in proximum suum, et habuerit aliquod iuramentum, quo teneatur astrictus; et venerit propter iuramentum coram altari tuo in domum tuam,

If someone is accused of doing something wrong to another person, and they bring him to 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,’

32 tu exaudies in caelo: et facies, et iudicabis servos tuos, condemnans impium, et reddens viam suam super caput eius, iustificansque iustum, et retribuens ei secundum iustitiam suam.

then you listen from heaven, and 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.

33 Si fugerit populus tuus Israel inimicos suos (quia peccaturus est tibi) et agentes poenitentiam, et confitentes nomini tuo, venerint, et oraverint, et deprecati te fuerint in domo hac;

And when your Israeli people are defeated by their enemies [in a battle] because they have sinned against you, [and if they are 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 if they plead [that you will forgive them],

34 exaudi in caelo, et dimitte peccatum populi tui Israel, et reduces eos in terram, quam dedisti patribus eorum.

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.

35 Si clausum fuerit caelum, et non pluerit propter peccata eorum, et orantes in loco isto, poenitentiam egerint nomini tuo, et a peccatis suis conversi fuerint propter afflictionem suam:

And when you do not allow any rain to fall on the land because your people have sinned against you, if they turn toward this temple and admit that you [have justly punished them], if they turn away from their sinful behavior and [humbly] pray to you,

36 exaudi eos in caelo, et dimitte peccata servorum tuorum, et populi tui Israel: et ostende eis viam bonam per quam ambulent, et da pluviam super terram tuam, quam dedisti populo tuo in possessionem.

listen to them from heaven, and forgive your Israeli people for the sins [that they have committed]. Teach them the right way to conduct their lives. Then send rain on this land that you have given to your people to belong to them [permanently].

37 Fames si oborta fuerit in terra, aut pestilentia, aut corruptus aer, aut aerugo, aut locusta, vel rubigo, et afflixerit eum inimicus eius portas obsidens, omnis plaga, universa infirmitas,

And when the people of this land experience famines, or if there is a plague/illness that causes many people to become sick, or if [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,

38 cuncta devotatio, et imprecatio, quae acciderit omni homini de populo tuo Israel: si quis cognoverit plagam cordis sui, et expanderit manus suas in domo hac,

when your Israeli people earnestly plead with you knowing that they are suffering because they [have sinned], and if they stretch out their arms toward this temple and pray,

39 tu exaudies in caelo in loco habitationis tuae, et repropitiaberis, et facies ut des unicuique secundum omnes vias suas, sicut videris cor eius (quia tu nosti solus cor omnium filiorum hominum)

listen to them from your home in heaven, and forgive them, and help them. You are the only one who knows what people are thinking, so act toward everyone as they deserve,

40 ut timeant te cunctis diebus, quibus vivunt super faciem terrae, quam dedisti patribus nostris.

in order that your people may then have an awesome respect for you, all the years that they live in this land that you gave to our ancestors.

41 Insuper et alienigena, qui non est de populo tuo Israel, cum venerit de terra longinqua propter nomen tuum (audietur enim nomen tuum magnum, et manus tua fortis, et brachium tuum

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 come here to this temple to worship you and pray,

42 extentum ubique) cum venerit ergo, et oraverit in hoc loco,

43 tu exaudies in caelo, in firmamento habitaculi tui et facies omnia, pro quibus invocaverit te alienigena: ut discant universi populi terrarum nomen tuum timere, sicut populus tuus Israel, et probent quia nomen tuum invocatum est super domum hanc, quam aedificavi.

in your home in heaven, listen to their prayers, and do for them what they request you to do. Do that so that all the people-groups in the world will know about you and revere you, like we your Israeli people do. And then they will know that this temple that I have [caused to be] built to honor you, is where you [should be worshiped].

44 Si egressus fuerit populus tuus ad bellum contra inimicos suos, per viam, quocumque miseris eos, orabunt te contra viam civitatis, quam elegisti, et contra domum, quam aedificavi nomini tuo,

And if you send your people to go to fight against 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 for you,

45 et exaudies in caelo orationes eorum, et preces eorum, et facies iudicium eorum.

listen in heaven to their prayers; listen to what they plead for you to do, and assist them.

46 Quod si peccaverint tibi (non est enim homo qui non peccet) et iratus tradideris eos inimicis suis, et captivi ducti fuerint in terram inimicorum longe vel prope,

[It is true that] everyone sins. So, if your people sin against you, and you become angry with them, you may allow their enemies to defeat them and capture them and take them away to their enemies’ country, even to countries that are far away.

47 et egerint poenitentiam in corde suo in loco captivitatis, et conversi deprecati te fuerint in captivitate sua, dicentes: Peccavimus, inique egimus, impie gessimus:

If that happens, while they are in those countries to which they were forced to go, if they sincerely repent and plead with you there saying ‘We have sinned and have done things that are very wicked,’

48 et reversi fuerint ad te in universo corde suo, et tota anima sua in terra inimicorum suorum, ad quam captivi ducti fuerint: et oraverint te contra viam terrae suae, quam dedisti patribus eorum, et civitatis quam elegisti, et templi quod aedificavi nomini tuo:

if they very sincerely repent, and 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 if they pray,

49 exaudies in caelo, in firmamento solii tui orationes eorum, et preces eorum, et facies iudicium eorum:

then from your home in heaven listen to them while they plead [for your help], and assist them.

50 et propitiaberis populo tuo qui peccavit tibi, et omnibus iniquitatibus eorum, quibus praevaricati sunt in te: et dabis misericordiam coram eis, qui eos captivos habuerint, ut misereantur eis.

Forgive them for all the sins that they [have committed] against you, and cause their enemies to be kind to them.

51 Populus enim tuus est, et hereditas tua, quos eduxisti de Terra Aegypti, de medio fornacis ferreae.

Do not forget that the Israelis are your people; they are your special possession; you brought [our ancestors] out of Egypt where [they were greatly suffering as though] they were in a blazing furnace.

52 Ut sint oculi tui aperti ad deprecationem servi tui, et populi tui Israel, et exaudias eos in universis pro quibus invocaverint te.

I request that you always listen to your Israeli people and to me, their king, and heed their prayers whenever they call out to you [to help them].

53 Tu enim separasti eos tibi in hereditatem de universis populis terrae, sicut locutus es per Moysen servum tuum, quando eduxisti patres nostros de Aegypto Domine Deus.

You chose them from all the other people-groups in the world to belong to you, which is what you told Moses to tell them when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”

54 Factum est autem, cum complesset Salomon orans Dominum omnem orationem, et deprecationem hanc, surrexit de conspectu altaris Domini: utrumque enim genu in terram fixerat, et manus expanderat in caelum.

After Solomon had finished praying and pleading to Yahweh [for his help], he stood up in front of the altar where he had been kneeling. He lifted up his arms.

55 Stetit ergo, et benedixit omni ecclesiae Israel voce magna, dicens:

Then he [asked God to] bless all the Israeli people. [He prayed] loudly, saying,

56 Benedictus Dominus, qui dedit requiem populo suo Israel, iuxta omnia quae locutus est: non cecidit ne unus quidem sermo ex omnibus bonis, quae locutus est per Moysen servum suum.

“Praise Yahweh, who has given us his people peace, like he promised that he would do. He has done every one of the good things that he promised to Moses, the man who served him [very well].

57 Sit Dominus Deus noster nobiscum, sicut fuit cum patribus nostris, non derelinquens nos, neque proiiciens.

I pray that our God will be with us like he was with our ancestors, and that he will never abandon us.

58 Sed inclinet corda nostra ad se, ut ambulemus in universis viis eius, et custodiamus mandata eius, et ceremonias eius, et iudicia quaecumque mandavit patribus nostris.

I pray that he will cause us to loyally serve him, to conduct our lives as he wants us to, and to obey all his commandments and statutes and laws that he gave to our ancestors.

59 Et sint sermones mei isti, quibus deprecatus sum coram Domino, appropinquantes Domino Deo nostro die ac nocte, ut faciat iudicium servo suo, et populo suo Israel per singulos dies:

I pray that Yahweh our God will never forget these words that I have prayed, pleading for his help; I pray that he will think about them by day and by night. I pray that he will always help [us] Israeli people and me, giving us the things that we need day by day.

60 et sciant omnes populi terrae, quia Dominus ipse est Deus, et non est ultra absque eo.

If he does that, all the people-groups in the world will know that he is the only one who is God, and that there is no other one who is God.

61 Sit quoque cor nostrum perfectum cum Domino Deo nostro, ut ambulemus in decretis eius, et custodiamus mandata eius, sicut et hodie.

I pray that you, [his people, ] will always be fully committed to Yahweh, and that you will obey all his statutes and commands, like you are doing now.”

62 Igitur rex, et omnis Israel cum eo, immolabant victimas coram Domino.

Then the king and all the Israeli people who were there offered sacrifices to Yahweh.

63 Mactavitque Salomon hostias pacificas, quas immolavit Domino, boum viginti duo millia, et ovium centum viginti millia: et dedicaverunt templum Domini rex, et filii Israel.

They sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. Then the king and all the people dedicated the temple.

64 In die illa sanctificavit rex medium atrii, quod erat ante domum Domini: fecit quippe holocaustum ibi, et sacrificium, et adipem pacificorum: quoniam altare aereum, quod erat coram Domino, minus erat, et capere non poterat holocaustum, et sacrificium, et adipem pacificorum.

On that day, the king also dedicated/set apart the middle part of the courtyard that was in front of the temple. Then he offered sacrifices that would be completely burned [in the courtyard], the offerings of grain and the fat of the animals that were sacrificed to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. They sacrificed them there because the bronze altar was not big enough for all those sacrifices to be burned on it [that day].

65 Fecit ergo Salomon in tempore illo festivitatem celebrem, et omnis Israel cum eo, multitudo magna ab introitu Emath usque ad Rivum Aegypti, coram Domino Deo nostro, septem diebus et septem diebus, id est, quattuordecim diebus.

Then Solomon and all the Israeli people celebrated the Festival of [Living in Temporary] Shelters for seven days. There was a huge crowd of people there, some of whom had come from [distant places like] Hamath [in the far north] and the border of Egypt [in the far south].

66 Et in die octava dimisit populos: qui benedicentes regi, profecti sunt in tabernacula sua laetantes, et alacri corde super omnibus bonis, quae fecerat Dominus David servo suo, et Israel populo suo.

On the eighth day, Solomon sent the people to their homes. They all praised him and went home happy because of all the things that Yahweh had done to bless [King] David and his Israeli people.