2 Imilando 6
1 Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wathi: UJehova wathi uzahlala emnyameni onzima.
Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 Kodwa mina ngikwakhele indlu yokuhlala, lendawo yokuhlala kwakho kuze kube nini lanini.
But I have built you a house and home, a place for you to dwell in forever.”
3 Inkosi yasiphendula ubuso bayo, yabusisa ibandla lonke lakoIsrayeli; ibandla lonke-ke lakoIsrayeli lalimi.
The king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel; and all the assembly of Israel stood.
4 Yasisithi: Kayibusiswe iNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, eyakhuluma ngomlomo wayo kuDavida ubaba yakugcwalisa ngezandla zayo, isithi:
He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
5 Kusukela ngosuku engakhupha ngalo abantu bami elizweni leGibhithe kangikhethanga muzi ezizweni zonke zakoIsrayeli ukwakha indlu, ukuthi ibizo lami libe lapho, kangikhethanga muntu ukuba ngumkhokheli phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli.
‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there, and I chose no man to be prince over my people Israel;
6 Kodwa ngakhetha iJerusalema ukuthi ibizo lami libe lapho, ngakhetha uDavida ukuthi abe phezu kwabantu bami uIsrayeli.
but now I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’
7 Njalo kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavida ubaba ukwakhela ibizo leNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, indlu.
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
8 Kodwa iNkosi yathi kuDavida ubaba: Njengoba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela ibizo lami indlu, wenze kuhle ngokuthi kwakusenhliziyweni yakho.
But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart;
9 Lanxa kunjalo kawuyikuyakha indlu wena, kodwa indodana yakho ezaphuma ekhalweni lwakho, yiyo ezakwakhela ibizo lami indlu.
nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will come out of your body, he shall build the house for my name.’
10 INkosi isiqinisile ilizwi layo eyalikhulumayo, ngoba ngivelile esikhundleni sikaDavida ubaba, ngihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli, njengokukhuluma kweNkosi; sengilakhele ibizo leNkosi, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, indlu.
“The LORD has performed his word that he spoke; for I have risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
11 Ngiwubeke khona umtshokotsho lapho okulesivumelwano seNkosi khona eyasenza labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
There I have set the ark, in which is the LORD’s covenant, which he made with the children of Israel.”
12 Wasesima phambi kwelathi leNkosi maqondana lebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli, welula izandla zakhe.
He stood before the LORD’s altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands
13 Ngoba uSolomoni wayenze isitubhu sethusi, ubude baso buzingalo ezinhlanu, lobubanzi baso buzingalo ezinhlanu, lokuphakama kwaso kuzingalo ezintathu, wasimisa phakathi laphakathi kweguma. Wema phezu kwaso, waguqa ngamadolo akhe phambi kwebandla lonke lakoIsrayeli, welulela izandla zakhe emazulwini,
(for Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the middle of the court; and he stood on it, and knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands towards heaven).
14 wathi: Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, kakho uNkulunkulu onjengawe emazulwini lemhlabeni, ogcina isivumelwano lomusa ezincekwini zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo,
Then he said, “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep covenant and loving kindness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart;
15 ogcinele inceku yakho uDavida ubaba lokho owakutsho kuyo; ngoba wakhuluma ngomlomo wakho usukugcwalisile ngesandla sakho njengalamuhla.
who have kept with your servant David my father that which you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.
16 Ngakho-ke, Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, gcinela inceku yakho uDavida ubaba lokho owakutsho kuyo usithi: Kakuyikusweleka umuntu kuwe phambi kobuso bami ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikaIsrayeli; kuphela uba abantwana bakho beqaphela indlela yabo phambi kwami, ukuthi bahambe ngomlayo wami, njengalokho uhambile phambi kwami.
“Now therefore, LORD, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, ‘There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’
17 Ngakho-ke, Nkosi, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, kaliqiniseke ilizwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho, kuDavida.
Now therefore, LORD, the God of Israel, let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David.
18 Kambe ngeqiniso uNkulunkulu angahlala labantu emhlabeni? Khangela, amazulu, yebo, amazulu amazulu angekwanele; kangakanani-ke lindlu engiyakhileyo?
“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
19 Kodwa phendukela emkhulekweni wenceku yakho lekuncengeni kwayo, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ukuzwa ukukhala lomkhuleko inceku yakho ekukhulekayo phambi kwakho.
Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you;
20 Ukuze amehlo akho avulekele lindlu emini lebusuku, endaweni owatsho ngayo ukuthi uzabeka ibizo lakho khona, ukuthi uwuzwe umkhuleko inceku yakho ewukhulekayo ikhangele kulindawo.
that your eyes may be open towards this house day and night, even towards the place where you have said that you would put your name, to listen to the prayer which your servant will pray towards this place.
21 Ngakho zwana ukuncenga kwenceku yakho lokwabantu bakho uIsrayeli abazakukhuleka bekhangele kulindawo; yebo, uzwe wena, usendaweni yakho yokuhlala, usemazulwini; lapho usizwa, uthethelele.
Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray towards this place. Yes, hear from your dwelling place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.
22 Uba umuntu esona kumakhelwane wakhe, amethese isifungo ukumenza afunge, njalo isifungo size phambi kwelathi lakho kulindlu,
“If a man sins against his neighbour, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house,
23 zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, njalo yenza wahlulele inceku zakho, ngokuphindisela okhohlakeleyo, ngokunika indlela yakhe ekhanda lakhe, langokulungisisa olungileyo, ngokumnika njengokulunga kwakhe.
then hear from heaven, act, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
24 Lalapho abantu bakho uIsrayeli betshaywa phambi kwesitha, ngoba bonile kuwe, uba bephenduka, balivume ibizo lakho, bakhuleke bencenga phambi kwakho kulindlu,
“If your people Israel are struck down before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house,
25 zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho uIsrayeli, ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika bona laboyise.
then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.
26 Lapho amazulu evaliwe, njalo kungelazulu, ngoba bonile kuwe, uba bekhuleka bekhangele kulindawo belivuma ibizo lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo, nxa ubahluphile,
“When the sky is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray towards this place and confess your name, and turn from their sin when you afflict them,
27 zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, uthethelele isono senceku zakho lesabantu bakho uIsrayeli, usubafundise indlela enhle abazahamba ngayo; unise izulu elizweni lakho owalinika abantu bakho libe yilifa labo.
then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
28 Uba kulendlala elizweni, uba kulomatshayabhuqe wesifo, uba kulokutshisa, lengumane, isikhonyane, lemihogoyi; uba izitha zabo zibavimbezela elizweni lesango labo, loba yiyiphi inhlupheko laloba yiwuphi umkhuhlane;
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is—
29 lawuphi umkhuleko, lakuphi ukuncenga, okuzakwenziwa languwuphi umuntu, kumbe yibo bonke abantu bakho uIsrayeli, lapho besazi, ngulowo lalowo inhlupheko yakhe losizi lwakhe, eselulela izandla zakhe kulindlu;
whatever prayer and supplication is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who will each know his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread out his hands towards this house,
30 zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, uthethelele, uphe ngulowo lalowo ngokwezindlela zakhe zonke, onhliziyo yakhe uyayazi, ngoba nguwe wedwa owazi inhliziyo yabantwana babantu,
then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the children of men),
31 ukuze bakwesabe bahambe endleleni zakho insuku zonke abaziphila ebusweni bomhlaba owawupha obaba.
that they may fear you, to walk in your ways as long as they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
32 Njalo mayelana lowezizweni ongesuye owabantu bakho uIsrayeli, kodwa evela elizweni elikhatshana ngenxa yebizo lakho elikhulu lesandla sakho esilamandla lengalo yakho eyeluliweyo; lapho besizakhuleka kulindlu,
“Moreover, concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for your great name’s sake and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when they come and pray towards this house,
33 zwana-ke wena usemazulwini, usendaweni yakho yokuhlala, wenze njengakho konke owezizweni akhala ngakho kuwe, ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi ibizo lakho, bakwesabe, njengabantu bakho uIsrayeli, lokuthi bazi ukuthi ibizo lakho liyabizwa phezu kwalindlu engiyakhileyo.
then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.
34 Uba abantu bakho bephuma ukuyakulwa bemelene lezitha zabo ngendlela obathume ngayo, bakhuleke kuwe endleleni yomuzi owukhethileyo lendlu engiyakhele ibizo lakho,
“If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you send them, and they pray to you towards this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;
35 zwana-ke usemazulwini umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, wenze ilungelo labo.
then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
36 Uba besona kuwe, ngoba kakulamuntu ongoniyo, ubusubathukuthelela, ubanikele phambi kwesitha, ukuze ababathumbileyo babathumbele elizweni elikhatshana kumbe eliseduze,
“If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near;
37 uba benakana ngakho enhliziyweni yabo elizweni abathunjelwe kilo, baphenduke bancenge kuwe elizweni lokuthunjwa kwabo bathi: Sonile, senze okubi, senza ngenkohlakalo;
yet if they come to their senses in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;’
38 uba bephendukela kuwe ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo langawo wonke umphefumulo wabo elizweni lokuthunjwa kwabo, lapho ababathumbele khona, bakhuleke ngasendleleni yelizwe labo owalinika oyise, lomuzi owukhethileyo, langasendlini engiyakhele ibizo lakho,
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray towards their land which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and towards the house which I have built for your name;
39 zwana-ke usemazulwini, usendaweni yakho yokuhlala, umkhuleko wabo lokuncenga kwabo, wenze ilungelo labo, uthethelele abantu bakho abakonileyo.
then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 Ngakho, Nkulunkulu wami, ake amehlo akho avuleke lendlebe zakho zilalele umkhuleko walindawo.
“Now, my God, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
41 Khathesi-ke, sukuma, Nkosi Nkulunkulu, uze endaweni yakho yokuphumula, wena lomtshokotsho wamandla akho. Abapristi bakho, Nkosi Nkulunkulu, kabembathe usindiso, labangcwele bakho bathokoze ngokuhle.
“Now therefore arise, LORD God, into your resting place, you, and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.
42 Nkosi Nkulunkulu, ungafulathelisi ubuso bogcotshiweyo wakho. Khumbula izisa zikaDavida inceku yakho.
“LORD God, don’t turn away the face of your anointed. Remember your loving kindnesses to David your servant.”
