1 Amakhosi 8

1 Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni wamema abadala bako-Israyeli ukuthi beze kuye eJerusalema, bonke abazinhloko zezizwana lezinduna zezimuli zako-Israyeli, ukuthi balethe ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo lisuka eZiyoni, uMuzi kaDavida.

Then Solomon summoned before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel, including all the heads of the tribes and the family leaders of the Israelites. He instructed them to bring up with them the Ark of the Lord's Agreement from Zion, the City of David.

2 Amadoda wonke ako-Israyeli eza ndawonye enkosini uSolomoni ngesikhathi somkhosi ngenyanga ebizwa ngokuthi ngu-Ethanimi, inyanga yesikhombisa.

All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the festival which is held in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim.

3 Kwathi bonke abadala bako-Israyeli sebefikile, abaphristi bathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano,

When all the elders of Israel had gathered, the priests picked up the Ark and brought the Ark of the Lord and the Tent of Meeting with all its holy items.

4 njalo basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo kanye leThente lokuHlanganela layo yonke imiceciso engcwele iphakathi kwalo. Abaphristi labaLevi bakuthwala lokhu,

The priests and Levites carried them up.

5 njalo inkosi uSolomoni kanye lebandla lonke lako-Israyeli babebuthene ndawonye phambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano, benikela ngezimvu langenkomo ababengeke bakwazi ukuloba inani lazo loba ukuzibala.

In front of the Ark, King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who had gathered there with him sacrificed many, many sheep and bulls—so numerous they couldn't be counted!

6 Abaphristi basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo endaweni yalo engcwele engaphakathi kwethempeli, iNdawo eNgcwelengcwele, basebelifaka ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubhi.

Then the priests carried the Ark of the Lord's Agreement to its place in the inner sanctuary of the Temple, the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.

7 Amakherubhi elula impiko zawo phezu kwendawo yebhokisi lesivumelwano njalo agubuzela ibhokisi lesivumelwano kanye lezibambo zokulithwala.

The cherubim spread their wings over the place where the Ark was, covering the Ark and its carrying poles.

8 Izigodo lezi zazizinde zibonakala nxa useNdaweni eNgcwele phambi kwesiphephelo esingaphakathi, kodwa hatshi nxa ungaphandle kweNdawo eNgcwele; lezo zilokhu zimi njalo lalamuhla.

The poles were so long that the ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside. They are there to this day.

9 Kwakungelalutho ebhokisini lesivumelwano ngaphandle kwezibhebhedu ezimbili zamatshe uMosi ayezifake phakathi kwalo eseHorebhi lapho uThixo enza khona isivumelwano labako-Israyeli ngemva kokuphuma kwabo eGibhithe.

There was nothing in the Ark apart from the two tablets of stone that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord had made an agreement with the Israelites after they came out of the land of Egypt.

10 Kwathi abaphristi sebesukile eNdaweni eNgcwele, iyezi lagcwala lagubuzela ethempelini likaThixo.

When the priests left the Holy Place, the cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.

11 Abaphristi abenzanga inkonzo yabo ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo kaThixo yayigcwele ethempelini lakhe.

Due to the cloud, the priests could not stay there to carry out their service, for the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's Temple.

12 Ngakho uSolomoni wathi, “UThixo utshilo ukuba uzahlala eyezini elimnyama;

Then Solomon said: “Lord, you said that you would live in the thick cloud.

13 ngempela sengikwakhele ithempeli elibukekayo, indawo ozahlala kiyo kuze kube nini lanini.”

Now I have built for you a majestic Temple, a place where you may live for ever.”

14 Kwathi ibandla lonke lako-Israyeli lisemi khonapho, inkosi yaphenduka yalibusisa.

The king turned around to the whole assembly of Israel who were standing there, and blessed them,

15 Ngakho yasisithi: “Udumo kuye uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena ngesandla sakhe ophelelise ukwenza lokho akuthembisa ngowakhe umlomo ethembisa ubaba uDavida. Ngoba wathi,

saying, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who by his own power has fulfilled the promise he made to my father David when he said,

16 ‘Kusukela mhla ngikhupha abantu bami abako-Israyeli eGibhithe, bengingakaze ngikhethe idolobho loba kukusiphi isizwana sako-Israyeli ukuthi ngakhelwe ithempeli leBizo lami khona, kodwa ngimkhethile uDavida ukuthi abuse abantu bami bako-Israyeli.’

‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt I have not chosen any town of the tribes of Israel as the place to build a Temple to honor me. But I have chosen David as king over my people Israel.’

17 Ubaba uDavida wayelakho enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi akhe ithempeli leBizo likaThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.

My father David really wanted to build a Temple to honor the Lord, the God of Israel.

18 Kodwa uThixo wathi kubaba uDavida, ‘Wenza kuhle ngokuba lesifiso sokungakhela ithempeli leBizo lami enhliziyweni yakho.

But the Lord told my father David, ‘You had the desire to build a Temple to honor me, and it was good that you really wanted to do this.

19 Lanxa kunjalo, kakusuwe ozalakha lelothempeli, kodwa lizakwakhiwa yindodana yakho, eyinyama legazi lakho, yiyo ezakwakha ithempeli leBizo lami.’

But it won't be you who will build this Temple, but your son who is to be born to you—he will build the Temple to honor me.'

20 UThixo usigcinile isithembiso asenzayo: Sengiyinkosi esikhundleni sikababa uDavida njalo khathesi sengihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sika-Israyeli njengokuthembisa kukaThixo, njalo sengakhele iBizo likaThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli.

Now the Lord has kept his promise that he made. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple to honor the Lord, the God of Israel.

21 Ngilungisile indawo khonaphana eyebhokisi lesivumelwano, kulapho okulesivumelwano sikaThixo asenza labokhokho ekubakhupheni kwakhe kwelamaGibhithe.”

I have provided a place there for the Ark, which contains the agreement of the Lord that he made with our forefathers when he led them out of the land of Egypt.”

22 Ngalokho uSolomoni wema e-alithareni likaThixo phambi kwebandla lonke lako-Israyeli, welula izandla zakhe waziphakamisela ezulwini

Then Solomon stood in front of the altar of the Lord before the whole assembly of Israel and held out his hands toward heaven.

23 wasesithi: Oh “Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kakho uNkulunkulu onjengawe ezulwini phezulu loba emhlabeni ngaphansi, wena ogcina isivumelwano sakho sothando lezinceku zakho, wena oqhubeka ngenhliziyo yonke endleleni yakho.

He said, “Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep you agreement of trustworthy love with your servants, those who are totally committed to following you.

24 Usigcinile isithembiso sakho encekwini yakho uDavida ongubaba; ngomlomo wakho uthembisile njalo ngesandla sakho ukugcwalisile lokho njengoba kunjalo lamuhla.

You have kept the promise you made to your servant David, my father. You yourself promised, and by your own power you have fulfilled it today.

25 Khathesi Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, gcinela inceku yakho uDavida ubaba lezozithembiso owazenzayo lapho wathi, ‘Awuyikwehluleka loba sekutheni ukuzuza indoda ezahlala esihlalweni sami sobukhosi ko-Israyeli, nxa amadodana akho ezananzelela ukuhamba phambi kwami njengalokhu okwenzileyo wena.’

So now, Lord, God of Israel, please also keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said: ‘You will never fail to have a descendant sit in my presence on the throne of Israel, as long as they make sure to follow me as you have done.’

26 Ngakho khathesi, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kaligcwaliseke ilizwi lesithembiso owalikhuluma kubaba uDavida inceku yakho.

Now, God of Israel, please keep the promise you made to our servant, my father David.

27 Kambe uNkulunkulu uzahlala emhlabeni na? Amazulu, kanye lezulu eliphakemeyo, alikulingani. Pho ithempeli leli engilakhileyo lingabe liyini kuwe na!

But will God really live here on earth? The heavens, even highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this Temple I have built!

28 Kodwa-ke akuzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho lokucela kwayo umusa, Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu wami. Zwana ukukhala lokukhuleka kwenceku yakho phambi kwakho ngalolusuku.

Please hear the prayer of your servant and his request, Lord my God. Please hear the appeals and the prayers that your servant is presenting before you today.

29 Sengathi amehlo akho angahlala phezu kwalelithempeli ebusuku lemini, yonale indawo owathi wena, ‘IBizo lami lizakuba khonapha,’ ukuze uzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho ngale indawo.

May you watch over this Temple day and night, caring for the place where you said you would be honored. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place,

30 Zwana isikhalazo senceku yakho lesabantu bakho bako-Israyeli nxa bekhuleka bekhangele kule indawo. Zwana usezulwini okuyindawo yakho yokuhlala, njalo nxa usizwa, uthethelele.

and may you hear the request of your servant and your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Please hear from heaven where you live. May you hear and forgive.

31 Nxa umuntu angonela umakhelwane wakhe, afungiswe, abesefunga isifungo phambi kwe-alithari lakho kulelithempeli,

When someone sins against another and is required to take an oath before your altar in this Temple,

32 zwana usezulwini wenze. Yahlulela phakathi kwezinceku zakho, umlahle olecala, wehlisele ekhanda lakhe lokho akwenzileyo. Tshono ukuthi ongonanga kalacala ukuze uveze ukuba msulwa kwakhe.

listen from heaven—act and judge your servants. Pay back the guilty; vindicate and reward those who do right.

33 Nxa abantu bakho abako-Israyeli behlulwe yisitha ngenxa yokona kwabo phambi kwakho, kuthi nxa sebephendukela ngakuwe bebiza ibizo lakho, bekhuleka njalo becela intethelelo kuwe kulelithempeli,

When your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they come back in repentance to you, praying for forgiveness in this Temple,

34 lapho-ke zwana usezulwini uthethelele izono zabantu bakho bako-Israyeli njalo ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika okhokho babo.

then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their forefathers.

35 Nxa amazulu evaleka njalo kungaselazulu ngenxa yokuthi abantu bakho bonile phambi kwakho, njalo nxa bekhuleka bekhangele kule indawo bavume ibizo lakho batshiye izono zabo ngoba ubatshayile,

If the skies are closed shut and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and if they come back in repentance to you, turning away from their sin because you have punished them,

36 lapho-ke zwana usezulwini uthethelele izinceku zakho izono zazo, abantu bakho bako-Israyeli. Bafundise indlela yokuphila eqondileyo, uthumele izulu elizweni owalinika abantu bakho ukuba libe yilifa labo.

then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the good way so that they can walk on it, and send rain on the earth that you have given to your people as their possession.

37 Nxa kufika indlala kumbe isifo elizweni, ukukhunta lengumane, isikhongwane lemihogoyi, loba behanqwa yizitha kwelinye lamadolobho abo, loba yincithakalo enganani loba ngumkhuhlane onjani ongeza,

If there is famine in the land, or disease, or blight or mildew on the crops, or if there are locusts or caterpillars, or if an enemy comes to lay siege to the towns in the land—it can be whatever kind of plague or whatever kind of disease—

38 kuthi lanxa kusenziwa umkhuleko kumbe isicelo ngomunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, ngulowo lalowo ezazela inhlupheko ezinhliziyweni yakhe njalo ephakamisele izandla zakhe kulelithempeli,

then whatever kind of prayer or whatever kind of appeal is made by anyone or all your people Israel, in fact anyone who, knowing their problems and pains, prays toward this Temple,

39 lalela usezulwini, okuyindawo yakho yokuhlala. Thethelela njalo wenzele umuntu munye ngamunye okuhambelana lezenzo zakhe ngoba wena uyazazi inhliziyo zabo (futhi nguwe wedwa owazi inhliziyo zabantu),

then hear from heaven, the place where you live, and forgive. Give according to the way they live their lives, for you know what people are really like inside, and you alone know the true character of people.

40 yikho bezakwesaba imihla yabo yonke yokuphila beselizweni owalinika okhokho bethu.

Then they will respect you and follow your ways all the time they live in the land you gave to our forefathers.

41 Owezizweni ongasuye omunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli kodwa evela kude ngenxa yodumo lwebizo lakho

As for the foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel but who come from a distant land,

42 ngoba abantu bazakuzwa ngelakho ibizo eliqakathekileyo lesandla sakho esilamandla lengalo yakho eyeluliweyo, nxa esiza akhuleke ekhangele kulelithempeli,

having heard of your great nature and power and ability to help, when they come and pray toward this Temple,

43 lapho-ke zwana usezulwini, indawo elilikhaya lakho, wenze loba yini owezizweni ayicela kuwe, ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba balazi ibizo lakho njalo bakwesabe, njengoba abantu bakho abako-Israyeli bekwenza, baze bazi ukuthi indlu le engiyakhileyo ithwele iBizo lakho.

then hear from heaven, the place where you live, and give them what they're asking. That way, everyone on earth will come to know and respect you, just as your own people Israel do. They will also know that this Temple I have built is dedicated to you.

44 Nxa abantu bakho bephuma besiya empini ukuyakulwa lezitha zabo, loba kungaphi obathuma khona, njalo kuthi nxa bekhuleka kuThixo bekhangele edolobheni olikhethileyo wena kanye lethempelini engalakhela iBizo lakho,

When your people go to fight against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to you towards the city you have chosen and the house I have built to honor you,

45 lapho-ke zwana usezulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubaphathise kulokho.

then hear from heaven what they are praying and asking for, and support their cause.

46 Nxa bonile phambi kwakho, ngoba kakho ongoniyo njalo uze ubathukuthelele ubanikele ezitheni zabo ezibathumba zibase ezizweni zazo, ezikhatshana leziseduze;

If they sin against you—and there is nobody who does not sin—you may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them away as prisoners to a foreign land, near or far away.

47 kuthi nxa bengaguquka ezinhliziyweni zabo besemazweni abayabe bethunjelwe kuwo, baphenduke bakuncenge besemazweni abathunjelwa khona bathi, ‘Sonile, senza okungalunganga lokubi,’

But if they think again in their land of captivity and repent and plead for mercy from you, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly,’

48 njalo nxa bephendukela kuwe ngezinhliziyo zabo zonke langemiphefumulo yabo elizweni lezitha zabo ezabathumbayo, bakhuleke kuwe bekhangele elizweni owalinika oyise, lasedolobheni owalikhethayo lethempeli engilakhele iBizo lakho,

and they come back to you with complete sincerity in their thoughts and attitudes there in their land of captivity; and they pray towards the land you gave their forefathers, the city you chose, and the Temple I have built to honor you,

49 ngakho usezulwini, ikhaya lakho zwana imikhuleko yabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubenzele khona lokho.

then hear from heaven, the place where you live, respond and support their cause.

50 Ubathethelele abantu bakho, abakonileyo wena, bathethelele kukho konke ukona kwabo kuwe, wenze izitha zabo zibe lomusa kubo;

Forgive your people who have sinned against you, all the rebellious acts they have committed against you. Please make those who have captured them show mercy to them.

51 ngoba bangabantu bakho njalo bayilifa lakho, bona owabakhipha eGibhithe, esihogweni esivuthayo esincibilikisa insimbi. (questioned)

For they are your people—they belong to you! You led them out of Egypt, out of the middle of furnace used for smelting iron.

52 Sengathi amehlo akho angaba phezu kwenceku yakho ukukhala kwayo lokuncengela kwabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, sengathi ungalalela ukukhala kwabo bekhalaza kuwe.

May you pay attention to the requests of your servant, and to the requests of your people Israel, and may you respond whenever they call out to you.

53 Ngoba wabakhetha phakathi kwezizwe zonke zomhlaba ukuthi babe yilifa lakho, njengoba wakhuluma ngenceku yakho uMosi, lapho wena, Oh Thixo Wobukhosi, wakhipha okhokho bethu eGibhithe.”

For you set them apart from all the nations of the world as a people who belonged to you, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you led our fathers out of Egypt.”

54 Kwathi uSolomoni eseqedile imikhuleko le lezikhalazo kuThixo, waphakama wema phambi kwe-alithari likaThixo, lapho ayekade eguqe khona ephakamisele izandla zakhe ezulwini.

After Solomon finished praying all these prayers and requests to the Lord, he stood up before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands held out toward heaven.

55 Waphakama wabusisa ibandla labako-Israyeli ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi:

Solomon stood, and in a loud voice he blessed the whole assembly of Israel, saying,

56 “Udumo kalube kuThixo, yena olethele abantu bako-Israyeli ukuphumula njengokwethembisa kwakhe. Akukho lokukodwa okungenzekanga kuzozonke izithembiso ezinhle azenza ngenceku yakhe uMosi.

“Praise the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel in accordance with everything he promised. Not a single word has failed among all the good promises he made through his servant Moses.

57 Sengathi uThixo uNkulunkulu wethu angaba lathi njengoba wayelabokhokho bethu; sengathi angaze asitshiya loba asidele.

May the Lord our God be with us in the same way he was with our forefathers. May he never leave us or abandon us.

58 Sengathi angaguqulela inhliziyo zethu kuye, sihambe ezindleleni zakhe sigcine lemilayo yakhe, imithetho lezimiso azipha okhokho.

May he help us to come to him, to follow all his ways and to keep the commandments, statutes, and regulations he ordered our forefathers to observe.

59 Sengathi amazwi ami la, engikhuleka ngawo kuThixo, angaba seduze kukaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu emini lebusuku, ukuze aqinise izikhalazo zenceku yakhe lezikhalazo zabantu bakhe bako-Israyeli kusiya ngeziswelo zabo zemihla ngemihla,

May these words of mine I have used to make my request in the Lord's presence be before the Lord our God day and night. In that way he may support the cause of his servant and of his people Israel as is needed every day,

60 ukuze abantu bonke bomhlaba bakwazi ukuthi uThixo unguNkulunkulu lokuthi kakho omunye.

in order that everyone on the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is no other!

61 Kodwa inhliziyo zenu azigcwale ukuzinikela kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu, ukuphila ngezimiso zakhe lokulalela imilayo yakhe, njengakhathesi.”

So make sure you are completely committed to the Lord our God just as you are today, and be careful to follow his statutes and to keep his commandments.”

62 Ngalokho inkosi labo bonke abako-Israyeli banikela imihlatshelo yabo phambi kukaThixo.

Then the king and together with all of Israel offered sacrifices before the Lord.

63 USolomoni wanikela ngomhlatshelo weminikelo yobudlelwano kuThixo; inkomo ezizinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lambili, izimvu lembuzi ezizinkulungwane ezilikhulu lamatshumi amabili. Ngokunjalo inkosi labo bonke abako-Israyeli banikela ithempeli likaThixo.

Solomon presented as friendship offerings to the Lord 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep. In this way the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the Lord's Temple.

64 Ngalelolanga inkosi yangcwelisa iphakathi leguma phambi kwethempeli likaThixo, njalo kulapho eyanikela khona ngomnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo wamabele kanye lamafutha eminikelo yobudlelwano ngoba i-alithari lethusi elaliphambi kukaThixo lalilincinyane kakhulu ukuthi kutshiselwe kilo iminikelo yokutshiswa, leminikelo yamabele leminikelo yamafutha obudlelwano.

On that same day, the king dedicated the center of the courtyard in front of the Lord's Temple. There he presented burnt offerings, grain offerings, and the fat of the friendship offerings, since the bronze altar in the Lord's presence was too small to hold all these offerings.

65 Ngakho uSolomoni wagcina umkhosi ngalesosikhathi ekanye lo-Israyeli wonke, ibandla elikhulu, abantu abavela eLebho Hamathi kusiya eSihotsheni saseGibhithe. Bawuthakazelela phambi kukaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu okwensuku eziyisikhombisa lezinye eziyisikhombisa njalo zaba litshumi lane sezizonke.

Then Solomon together with all of Israel observed the festival before the Lord our God for seven days, and then another seven days—fourteen days in all. It was a large assembly of people, who came from as far away as Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt.

66 Ngosuku olulandelayo inkosi yabachitha. Bayibusisa inkosi basuka baya emakhaya abo, belentokozo bejabula ezinhliziyweni zabo ngakho konke okuhle uThixo ayekwenzele inceku yakhe uDavida kanye labantu bakhe bako-Israyeli.

One day later Solomon sent the people home. They blessed the king and went home, full of joy and happy for all the good things that the Lord had done for his servant David and for his people Israel.