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.
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 Amadoda wonke ako-Israyeli eza ndawonye enkosini uSolomoni ngesikhathi somkhosi ngenyanga ebizwa ngokuthi ngu-Ethanimi, inyanga yesikhombisa.
So all the Israeli leaders came to King Solomon during the Festival of [Living in Temporary] Shelters, in October.
3 Kwathi bonke abadala bako-Israyeli sebefikile, abaphristi bathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano,
When they had all arrived, the priests lifted up the Sacred Chest
4 njalo basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo kanye leThente lokuHlanganela layo yonke imiceciso engcwele iphakathi kwalo. Abaphristi labaLevi bakuthwala lokhu,
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 njalo inkosi uSolomoni kanye lebandla lonke lako-Israyeli babebuthene ndawonye phambi kwebhokisi lesivumelwano, benikela ngezimvu langenkomo ababengeke bakwazi ukuloba inani lazo loba ukuzibala.
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 Abaphristi basebeletha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo endaweni yalo engcwele engaphakathi kwethempeli, iNdawo eNgcwelengcwele, basebelifaka ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubhi.
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 Amakherubhi elula impiko zawo phezu kwendawo yebhokisi lesivumelwano njalo agubuzela ibhokisi lesivumelwano kanye lezibambo zokulithwala.
The wings of those statues spread out over the Sacred Chest and over the poles by which it was carried.
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 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 Kwakungelalutho ebhokisini lesivumelwano ngaphandle kwezibhebhedu ezimbili zamatshe uMosi ayezifake phakathi kwalo eseHorebhi lapho uThixo enza khona isivumelwano labako-Israyeli ngemva kokuphuma kwabo eGibhithe.
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 Kwathi abaphristi sebesukile eNdaweni eNgcwele, iyezi lagcwala lagubuzela ethempelini likaThixo.
When the priests came out of the temple, [suddenly] it was filled with a cloud.
11 Abaphristi abenzanga inkonzo yabo ngenxa yeyezi, ngoba inkazimulo kaThixo yayigcwele ethempelini lakhe.
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 Ngakho uSolomoni wathi, “UThixo utshilo ukuba uzahlala eyezini elimnyama;
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 ngempela sengikwakhele ithempeli elibukekayo, indawo ozahlala kiyo kuze kube nini lanini.”
I have built for you a magnificent temple, a place for you to live in forever.”
14 Kwathi ibandla lonke lako-Israyeli lisemi khonapho, inkosi yaphenduka yalibusisa.
Then, while all the people stood there, the king turned around and faced them, and he [asked God to] bless them.
15 Ngakho yasisithi: “Udumo kuye uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena ngesandla sakhe ophelelise ukwenza lokho akuthembisa ngowakhe umlomo ethembisa ubaba uDavida. Ngoba wathi,
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 ‘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.’
‘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 Ubaba uDavida wayelakho enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi akhe ithempeli leBizo likaThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.
[Then Solomon said], “My father David wanted to build a temple in order that we Israeli people could worship Yahweh our God there.
18 Kodwa uThixo wathi kubaba uDavida, ‘Wenza kuhle ngokuba lesifiso sokungakhela ithempeli leBizo lami enhliziyweni yakho.
But Yahweh said to him, ‘You have wanted to build a temple for me, and what you wanted to do was good.
19 Lanxa kunjalo, kakusuwe ozalakha lelothempeli, kodwa lizakwakhiwa yindodana yakho, eyinyama legazi lakho, yiyo ezakwakha ithempeli leBizo lami.’
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 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.
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 Ngilungisile indawo khonaphana eyebhokisi lesivumelwano, kulapho okulesivumelwano sikaThixo asenza labokhokho ekubakhupheni kwakhe kwelamaGibhithe.”
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 Ngalokho uSolomoni wema e-alithareni likaThixo phambi kwebandla lonke lako-Israyeli, welula izandla zakhe waziphakamisela ezulwini
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 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.
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 Usigcinile isithembiso sakho encekwini yakho uDavida ongubaba; ngomlomo wakho uthembisile njalo ngesandla sakho ukugcwalisile lokho njengoba kunjalo lamuhla.
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 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, 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 Ngakho khathesi, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kaligcwaliseke ilizwi lesithembiso owalikhuluma kubaba uDavida inceku yakho.
So now, God of us Israeli people, cause what you promised to do for my father David, who served you [well], to happen.
27 Kambe uNkulunkulu uzahlala emhlabeni na? Amazulu, kanye lezulu eliphakemeyo, alikulingani. Pho ithempeli leli engilakhileyo lingabe liyini kuwe na!
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 Kodwa-ke akuzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho lokucela kwayo umusa, Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu wami. Zwana ukukhala lokukhuleka kwenceku yakho phambi kwakho ngalolusuku.
But Yahweh, my God, please listen to me while I am praying to you this day,
29 Sengathi amehlo akho angahlala phezu kwalelithempeli ebusuku lemini, yonale indawo owathi wena, ‘IBizo lami lizakuba khonapha,’ ukuze uzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho ngale indawo.
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 Zwana isikhalazo senceku yakho lesabantu bakho bako-Israyeli nxa bekhuleka bekhangele kule indawo. Zwana usezulwini okuyindawo yakho yokuhlala, njalo nxa usizwa, uthethelele.
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 Nxa umuntu angonela umakhelwane wakhe, afungiswe, abesefunga isifungo phambi kwe-alithari lakho kulelithempeli,
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 zwana usezulwini wenze. Yahlulela phakathi kwezinceku zakho, umlahle olecala, wehlisele ekhanda lakhe lokho akwenzileyo. Tshono ukuthi ongonanga kalacala ukuze uveze ukuba msulwa kwakhe.
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 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,
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 lapho-ke zwana usezulwini uthethelele izono zabantu bakho bako-Israyeli njalo ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika okhokho babo.
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 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,
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 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.
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 Nxa kufika indlala kumbe isifo elizweni, ukukhunta lengumane, isikhongwane lemihogoyi, loba behanqwa yizitha kwelinye lamadolobho abo, loba yincithakalo enganani loba ngumkhuhlane onjani ongeza,
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 kuthi lanxa kusenziwa umkhuleko kumbe isicelo ngomunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, ngulowo lalowo ezazela inhlupheko ezinhliziyweni yakhe njalo ephakamisele izandla zakhe kulelithempeli,
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 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),
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 yikho bezakwesaba imihla yabo yonke yokuphila beselizweni owalinika okhokho bethu.
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 Owezizweni ongasuye omunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli kodwa evela kude ngenxa yodumo lwebizo lakho
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 ngoba abantu bazakuzwa ngelakho ibizo eliqakathekileyo lesandla sakho esilamandla lengalo yakho eyeluliweyo, nxa esiza akhuleke ekhangele kulelithempeli,
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.
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 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,
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 lapho-ke zwana usezulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubaphathise kulokho.
listen in heaven to their prayers; listen to what they plead for you to do, and assist them.
46 Nxa bonile phambi kwakho, ngoba kakho ongoniyo njalo uze ubathukuthelele ubanikele ezitheni zabo ezibathumba zibase ezizweni zazo, ezikhatshana leziseduze;
[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 kuthi nxa bengaguquka ezinhliziyweni zabo besemazweni abayabe bethunjelwe kuwo, baphenduke bakuncenge besemazweni abathunjelwa khona bathi, ‘Sonile, senza okungalunganga lokubi,’
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 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,
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 ngakho usezulwini, ikhaya lakho zwana imikhuleko yabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubenzele khona lokho.
then from your home in heaven listen to them while they plead [for your help], and assist them.
50 Ubathethelele abantu bakho, abakonileyo wena, bathethelele kukho konke ukona kwabo kuwe, wenze izitha zabo zibe lomusa kubo;
Forgive them for all the sins that they [have committed] against you, and cause their enemies to be kind to them.
51 ngoba bangabantu bakho njalo bayilifa lakho, bona owabakhipha eGibhithe, esihogweni esivuthayo esincibilikisa insimbi. (questioned)
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 Sengathi amehlo akho angaba phezu kwenceku yakho ukukhala kwayo lokuncengela kwabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, sengathi ungalalela ukukhala kwabo bekhalaza kuwe.
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 Ngoba wabakhetha phakathi kwezizwe zonke zomhlaba ukuthi babe yilifa lakho, njengoba wakhuluma ngenceku yakho uMosi, lapho wena, Oh Thixo Wobukhosi, wakhipha okhokho bethu eGibhithe.”
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 Kwathi uSolomoni eseqedile imikhuleko le lezikhalazo kuThixo, waphakama wema phambi kwe-alithari likaThixo, lapho ayekade eguqe khona ephakamisele izandla zakhe ezulwini.
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 Waphakama wabusisa ibandla labako-Israyeli ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi:
Then he [asked God to] bless all the Israeli people. [He prayed] loudly, saying,
56 “Udumo kalube kuThixo, yena olethele abantu bako-Israyeli ukuphumula njengokwethembisa kwakhe. Akukho lokukodwa okungenzekanga kuzozonke izithembiso ezinhle azenza ngenceku yakhe uMosi.
“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 Sengathi uThixo uNkulunkulu wethu angaba lathi njengoba wayelabokhokho bethu; sengathi angaze asitshiya loba asidele.
I pray that our God will be with us like he was with our ancestors, and that he will never abandon us.
58 Sengathi angaguqulela inhliziyo zethu kuye, sihambe ezindleleni zakhe sigcine lemilayo yakhe, imithetho lezimiso azipha okhokho.
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 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,
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 ukuze abantu bonke bomhlaba bakwazi ukuthi uThixo unguNkulunkulu lokuthi kakho omunye.
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 Kodwa inhliziyo zenu azigcwale ukuzinikela kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu, ukuphila ngezimiso zakhe lokulalela imilayo yakhe, njengakhathesi.”
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 Ngalokho inkosi labo bonke abako-Israyeli banikela imihlatshelo yabo phambi kukaThixo.
Then the king and all the Israeli people who were there offered sacrifices to Yahweh.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
