< 2 Nyakati 6 >

1 Ndipo Solomoni akasema, “Bwana alisema kwamba ataishi katika giza nene.
Then Solomon spoke, “The Lord said that he lives in deep darkness.
2 Nimejenga Hekalu zuri kwa ajili yako, mahali pako pa kukaa milele.”
However, I have built you a magnificent Temple, a place for you to live forever.”
3 Kusanyiko lote la Israeli lilipokuwa limesimama hapo, mfalme akageuka na kuwabariki.
Then the king turned and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, as they all stood.
4 Kisha akasema: “Ahimidiwe Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, ambaye kwa mikono yake mwenyewe ametimiza lile alilomwahidi Daudi baba yangu kwa kinywa chake mwenyewe. Kwa kuwa alisema,
He said, “Praise the Lord God of Israel, who has kept the promise he made to my father David when he said,
5 ‘Tangu siku niliyowatoa watu wangu kutoka Misri, sikuchagua mji katika kabila lolote la Israeli ili Hekalu lijengwe humo ili Jina langu lipate kuwamo humo, wala sikumchagua mtu yeyote kuwa kiongozi wa watu wangu Israeli.
‘Ever since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a town from any tribe of Israel where a Temple could be built to honor me, and I have not chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel.
6 Lakini sasa nimeuchagua Yerusalemu ili Jina langu lipate kuwamo humo, na nimemchagua Daudi kuwatawala watu wangu Israeli.’
But now I have chosen Jerusalem so that I will be honored there, and I have chosen David to rule over my people Israel.’
7 “Ilikuwa moyoni mwa Daudi baba yangu kujenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina la Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli.
My father David really wanted to build this Temple to honor the Lord, the God of Israel.
8 Lakini Bwana akamwambia Daudi baba yangu, ‘Kwa sababu ilikuwa moyoni mwako kujenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina langu, ulifanya vyema kuwa na jambo hili moyoni mwako.
But the Lord told my father David, ‘You really wanted to build me a Temple to honor me—and it was good for you to want to do this.
9 Hata hivyo, sio wewe utakayenijengea Hekalu, bali mwanao, ambaye ni nyama yako na damu yako mwenyewe, yeye ndiye atakayejenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina langu.’
But you are not going to build the Temple. Your son, one of your children, will build the Temple to honor me.’
10 “Bwana ametimiza ahadi aliyoiweka: Nimeingia mahali pa Daudi baba yangu na sasa ninakikalia kiti cha ufalme cha Israeli, kama vile Bwana alivyoahidi, nami nimejenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina la Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli.
Now the Lord has kept the promise he made. For I have taken the place of my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel as the Lord said, and I have built the Temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.
11 Nimeliweka humo Sanduku la Agano, ambamo ndani yake kuna lile Agano la Bwana alilofanya na watu wa Israeli.”
I have placed the Ark there, which has inside it the agreement the Lord made with the sons of Israel.”
12 Kisha Solomoni akasimama mbele ya madhabahu ya Bwana machoni pa kusanyiko lote la Israeli, naye akakunjua mikono yake.
Then Solomon stood in front of the altar of the Lord before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands in prayer.
13 Basi Solomoni alikuwa ametengeneza jukwaa la shaba, urefu wake dhiraa tano, na upana wake dhiraa tano na kimo chake dhiraa tatu, naye akaliweka katikati ya ukumbi wa nje. Akapanda juu ya hilo jukwaa kisha akapiga magoti mbele ya kusanyiko lote la Israeli, akanyoosha mikono yake kwelekea mbinguni.
Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. He had set it in the middle of the courtyard, and he was standing on it. Then he knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven.
14 Akasema: “Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, hakuna Mungu kama wewe juu mbinguni wala chini duniani, wewe unayetunza Agano lako la upendo na watumishi wanaodumu katika njia yako kwa moyo wote.
He said, “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth, keeping your agreement of trustworthy love with your servants who follow you with complete devotion.
15 Umetimiza ahadi yako kwa mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu, kwa kinywa chako uliahidi na kwa mkono wako umetimiza, kama ilivyo leo.
You have kept the promise you made to your servant, my father David. With your own mouth you made that promise, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.
16 “Sasa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mtimizie mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu ahadi zako ulizomwahidi uliposema, ‘Kamwe hutakosa kuwa na mtu atakayeketi mbele zangu kwenye kiti cha ufalme cha Israeli, kama wanao wakiangalia yote wayafanyayo kuenenda mbele zangu kama vile ulivyofanya.’
So now, Lord God of Israel, please keep the promise you made to your servant David, my father, when you told him, ‘If your descendants pay close attention to follow my way, and to keep my law as you have done, you will never fail to have one of them to sit on the throne of Israel.’
17 Sasa, Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, acha neno lako lile ulilomwahidi mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu litimie.
Now, Lord God of Israel, please fulfill this promise you made to your servant David.
18 “Lakini kweli, je, Mungu atafanya makao duniani na wanadamu? Mbingu, hata mbingu zilizo juu sana, haziwezi kukutosha wewe. Sembuse Hekalu hili nililojenga!
But will God really live here on earth among people? The heavens, even highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this Temple I have built!
19 Hata hivyo sikiliza dua ya mtumishi wako na maombi yake kwa huruma, Ee Bwana Mungu wangu. Sikia kilio na dua ambayo mtumishi wako anaomba mbele zako siku hii ya leo.
Please listen to 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.
20 Macho yako na yafumbuke kuelekea Hekalu hili usiku na mchana, mahali hapa ambapo ulisema, ‘Jina langu litakuwako humo,’ ili kwamba upate kusikia maombi ambayo mtumishi wako ataomba kuelekea mahali hapa.
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,
21 Usikie maombi ya mtumishi wako na ya watu wako Israeli wakati wanapoomba kuelekea mahali hapa. Sikia kutoka mbinguni, mahali pa makao yako na usikiapo, samehe.
and 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.
22 “Mtu anapomkosea jirani yake na akatakiwa kuapa, akija na kuapa mbele ya madhabahu yako ndani ya Hekalu hili,
When someone sins against another and is required to take an oath declaring the truth before your altar in this Temple,
23 basi, sikia kutoka mbinguni na ukatende. Hukumu kati ya watumishi wako, ukimwadhibu yule mwenye hatia kwa kuleta juu ya kichwa chake yale aliyoyatenda. Umtangazie mwenye haki kwamba hana hatia, hivyo ukathibitishe kuwa haki kwake.
listen from heaven, act and judge your servants. Pay back the guilty; vindicate and reward those who do right.
24 “Wakati watu wako Israeli watakapokuwa wameshindwa na adui kwa sababu ya dhambi walizofanya dhidi yako, watakapokugeukia na kulikiri jina lako, wakiomba na kufanya dua kwako katika Hekalu hili,
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,
25 basi usikie kutoka mbinguni, ukasamehe dhambi ya watu wako Israeli na kuwarudisha katika nchi uliyowapa baba zao.
then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave them and their forefathers.
26 “Wakati mbingu zitakapokuwa zimefungwa kusiwe na mvua kwa sababu watu wako wametenda dhambi dhidi yako, watakapoomba kuelekea mahali hapa na kulikiri jina lako nao wakageuka kutoka dhambi zao kwa sababu umewaadhibu,
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,
27 basi usikie kutoka mbinguni na usamehe dhambi ya watumishi wako, watu wako Israeli. Wafundishe njia sahihi ya kuishi na ukanyeshe mvua juu ya nchi uliyowapa watu wako kuwa urithi.
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.
28 “Wakati njaa au tauni vikija juu ya nchi, au koga au kawa, nzige au panzi, au wakati adui atakapowazingira katika mji wao wowote, maafa ya namna yoyote au ugonjwa wowote unaoweza kuwajia,
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—
29 wakati dua au maombi yatakapofanywa na mmojawapo wa watu wako Israeli, kila mmoja akitambua taabu zake na uchungu wake, naye akainyoosha mikono yake kuelekea Hekalu hili,
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,
30 basi usikie kutoka mbinguni, katika makao yako. Usamehe na utende, umpe kila mtu kulingana na matendo yake, kwa kuwa unaujua moyo wake (kwa kuwa ni wewe peke yako ujuaye mioyo ya watu wote),
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.
31 ili wakuogope kwa wakati wote watakaoishi katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu.
Then they will respect you and follow your ways all the time they live in the land you gave to our forefathers.
32 “Kwa habari ya mgeni ambaye si miongoni mwa watu wako Israeli, lakini amekuja kutoka nchi ya mbali kwa sababu ya jina lako kuu na mkono wako wenye nguvu ulionyooshwa, atakapokuja kuomba kuelekea Hekalu hili,
As for the foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel but who come from a distant land, having heard of your great nature and power and ability to help, when they come and pray toward this Temple,
33 basi na usikie kutoka mbinguni, mahali pa makao yako, ukafanye lolote ambalo mgeni huyo anakuomba, ili mataifa yote ya dunia wapate kujua jina lako na wakuogope kama wafanyavyo watu wako Israeli nao wapate pia kujua kwamba nyumba hii niliyoijenga imeitwa kwa Jina lako.
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 honors you.
34 “Wakati watu wako watakapokwenda vitani dhidi ya adui zao, popote utakapowapeleka, wakati watakapoomba kwa Bwana kuelekea mji ambao umeuchagua, na Hekalu nililolijenga kwa ajili ya Jina lako,
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,
35 basi usikie dua na maombi yao kutoka mbinguni, ukawatetee haki yao.
then hear from heaven what they are praying and asking for, and support their cause.
36 “Watakapotenda dhambi dhidi yako, kwa kuwa hakuna mtu yeyote ambaye hatendi dhambi, nawe ukachukizwa nao na kuwakabidhi kwa adui, ambaye atawachukua utumwani katika nchi iliyo mbali au karibu
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.
37 na kama watabadilika mioyo yao katika nchi wanakoshikiliwa mateka, nao wakatubu na kukulilia katika nchi ya utumwa na kusema, ‘Tumetenda dhambi, tumefanya makosa na tumetenda uovu’;
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,’
38 kama wakikugeukia kwa moyo wao wote na nafsi zao katika nchi ya adui zao ambao waliwachukua mateka, wakakuomba kuelekea nchi uliyowapa baba zao, kuelekea mji uliouchagua na Hekalu nililolijenga kwa ajili ya Jina lako,
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 and the city you chose and the Temple I have built to honor you,
39 basi kutoka mbinguni, mahali pa makao yako, usikie dua yao na maombi yao na kuitetea haki yao. Uwasamehe watu wako, waliotenda dhambi dhidi yako.
then hear from heaven, the place where you live, respond and support their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you.
40 “Sasa, Mungu wangu, macho yako na yafumbuke na masikio yako yasikie maombi yaombwayo mahali hapa.
Now my God, please open your eyes, and may your ears pay attention to the prayers offered in this place.
41 “Sasa inuka, Ee Bwana Mungu,
‘Come, Lord, and enter your home, together with your Ark of power. May your priests wear salvation like clothing; may your faithful people shout for joy in your goodness.
42 Ee Bwana Mungu, usimkatae
Lord God, don't reject the king you have chosen. Remember your trustworthy love for your servant David.’”

< 2 Nyakati 6 >