2 Nyakati 6

1 Kisha Selemani akasema, “Yahwe alisema kwamba ataishi katika giza nene,

Then Solomon said, “Yahweh, you said that you would live in a dark cloud.

2 lakini nimekujengea makao makuu, sehemu kwa ajili yako ya kuishi milele.”

But now I have built a glorious temple for you to live in forever!”

3 Kisha mfaalme akageuka nyuma na kuwabariki kusanyiko lote la Israeli, wakati kusanyiko lote la Israeli walikuwa wamesimama.

Then while all the people stood there, Solomon turned toward the people and he [asked God to] bless them.

4 Akasema, “Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, usifiwe, uliyesema na Daudi baba yangu, na ametimiza kwa mikono yake mwenyewe, akisema.

He said to them, “Praise Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelis belong, who has caused to happen what he promised to my father David. What he said to David was this:

5 'Tangu siku nilipowaleta watu wanagu nje ya nchi ya Misiri, sikuchaagua mji wowote nje ya makabaila yote ya Israeli ambamo nyumba ingejengwa, ili jina lanagu liwe humo. Wala sikuchagua mtu yeyote kuwa mfalme juu ya watu wangu Israeli.

‘From the time that I brought my people out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city in Israel in which a temple should be built for people to [worship] me there. Nor did I choose anyone to be the leader of my Israeli people.

6 Aidha, nimechagua Yeruselemu, ili kwamba jina langu liwe humo, na nimemchagua Daudi kuwa juu ya watu wanagu Israeli. '

But now I have chosen Jerusalem to be the place for people to worship me, and I have chosen you to rule my Israeli people.’”

7 Sasa ilikuwa ndani ya moyo wa Daudi baba yangu, kujenga nyumba kwa ajili ya jina la Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli.

[Then Solomon said], “My father David wanted to build a temple for Yahweh, the God to whom we Israelis belong.

8 Lakini Yahwe alisema kwa Daudi Baba yanagu. 'Kwmba ilikuwa ndani ya moyo wako kujenga nyumba kwa ajili ya jina langu, ulifanya vizuri kwa hili kuliweka moyono mwako.

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

9 Aidha, hutaijenga ile nyumba, badala yake, mwanao, mmoja atakayetoka kwenye viuno vyako, ataijenga nyumba kwa ajili ya jina langu.'

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

10 Yahwe ameyatimiza maneno aliyokuwa amesema, kwa maana nimeiinua sehemu ya Daudi baba yangu, na ninkaa juu ya kiti cha enzi cha Israeli, kama alivyoahidi Yahwe. Nimeijenga nyumba kwa ajii ya jina la Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli.

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

11 Nimeliweka humo sanduku, amabamo kuna agano la Yahwe, alilofanya na watu wa Israeli.”

I have put the Sacred Chest in the temple, in which are the stone tablets [on which are engraved the Ten Commandments of] the agreement that Yahweh made with us Israeli people.”

12 Selemani akasimama mbele ya madhabahu ya Yahwe mbele za kusanyiko lote la Israeli, na akanyosha mikono yake.

Then Solomon stood in front of the altar which was in front of the people of Israel who had gathered there.

13 Kwa mana alikuwa ametengeneza jukwaa la shaba, lenye urefu wa mikono mitano, upana wa mikono mitano, urefu wake kwenda juu mikono mitatu. Alikuwa ameliweka katika ya uwanja. Akasimama juu yake na kupiga magoti mbele ya kusanyiko la Israeli, kisha akanyosha mikono yake kuzielekea mbingu.

His workers had built a bronze platform there [for him to stand on], which was 7-1/2 feet long and 7-1/2 feet wide and 4-1/2 feet high. They put it in the outer courtyard. Solomon stood on that platform and then knelt down in front of all the people of Israel who had gathered there, and he spread out his arms toward heaven,

14 Akasema, “Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, hakuna Mungu kama wewe katika mbingu, au juu ya dunia, ambaye anatunza agano na upendo imara na watumishi wako ambao hutembea mbele zako kwa moyo wao wote;

and he prayed, “Yahweh, the God to whom we Israeli people belong, there is no God like you in heaven or 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.

15 wewe uliyetimtimizia Daudi baba yanagu, uliyokuwa umemwahidi. Ndiyo, ulisema kwa kinywa chako na umetimiza kwa mkono wako, kama ilivyo leo.

“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 those things for him, and today we see that by your power you have caused it all to happen.

16 Sasa, Yahwe, Mungu wa Israeli, tunza ahadi uliyoahidi kwa mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu, uliposema, 'Hautashindwa kupata mtu mbele yangu wa kukaa juu ya kiti cha enzi cha Israeli, ikiwa tu uzao wako ni waangalifu kutembea katika sheria yangu, kama wewe ulivyotembea mbele zangu.

“So now, Yahweh, the God we Israelis belong to, please do the things that you promised to my father David that you would do. You said that there would always be some of his descendants to rule Israel, if they faithfully conduct their lives as he did.

17 Sasa, Mungu wa Israeli, ninaomba kwamba ahadi uliyofanya kwa mtumishi wako Daudi itakuwa kweli.

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

18 Lakini kweli Mungu ataishi na wanadamu juu ya dunia? Angalia, dunia yoye na mbugu yenyewe haviwezi kukubeba -sembuse na hekalu hili nililojenga!

“But, my God, will you really live on earth among people? 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.

19 Nakusihi yaheshimu maombi haya ya mtumishi wako na ombi lake. Yahwe Mungu wangu; sikia kilio na amaombi ambayo mtumishi wako anaomba mbele zako.

But Yahweh, my God, please listen to my prayer, while I am pleading with you this day and do what I am requesting.

20 Fumbua macho yako kuelekea hekaalu hili usiku na mchana, sehemu aambaayo uliahidi kuliweka jina lako. Nakuomba usikie maombi atakayoomba mtumishi wako kuelekea sehemu hii.

Please protect this temple day and night. This is the place about which you have said, ‘I will always be there.’ Please listen to my prayer about this place.

21 Hivyo sikia maombi ya mtumishi na ya watu wako Israeli tunapoomba kuelekea sehemu hii. Ndiyo, sikia kutoka mahali unapoishi, kutoka mbinguni; na unaposikia, samehe.

Listen to me when I pray, and listen to your Israeli people when they pray. Listen from heaven, where you live; and when you hear us pray, forgive us.

22 Kama mtu atamtenda dhambi jirani yake na ikampasa kuapa kiapo, na ikiwa atakuja na kuapa kiapo mbele ya madhabahu yako katika nyumba hii,

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

23 basi sikia kutoka mbinguni na kutend na ukawahukumu watumishi wako, ukamlipizie mwovu, ili kuyaleta matendo yake juu ya kichwa chake. Ukamtangaze mwenye haki kuwa hana hatia, ili kumlipa thawabu kwa ajili ya uaminifu wake.

then you listen from heaven, and you 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.

24 Watu wako watakaposhindwa na adui kwa sababu wamekutenda dhambi, kama watageuka nyuma kwako, wakilikili jina lako, wakisali na kuomba msamaha mbele zako hekaluni—

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

25 basi tafadhali sikia mbinguni na usamehe dhambi za watu wako Isaraeli; uwarudishe katika nchi uliyoitoa kwa ajili yao na baba zao.

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.

26 Wakati mbingu zimefungwa na hakuna mvua kwa sababu watu wamekutenda dhambi—ikiwa wataomba kuelekea sehemu hii, wakilikili jina lako, na kuziacha dhambi zao utakapokuwa umewaadhibu—

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

27 basi sikia mbinguni na usamehe dhambi za watumishi wako na watu wako Israeli, utakapowaelekeza kwenye njia njema iwapasayo kutembea. Tuma mvua juu ya nchi yako, ambayo umewapa watu wako kama urithi.

hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your Israeli people. Teach them the right way to conduct their lives. Then cause it to rain here on the land that you gave to your people to belong to them [permanently].

28 Kama kuna njaa katika nchi, au kama kuna ugonjwa, tauni au ukungu, nzige au viwavijeshi, au kama adui wake wameyavamia malango ya mji katika nchi yao, au kwamba kuna pigo lolote au ugonjwa—

“And when the people of this land experience famines or if there is a plague, or when 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,

29 na ikiwa sala na maombi yamefanywa na mtu au watu wako wote Israel—kila mmoja akilijua pigo na huzuni katika moyo wake akinyosha mikono yake kuelekea hekalu hili.

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

30 Basi sikiliza mbinguni, sehemu ambayo unaishi; samehe, na umlipe kila mtu kwa njia zake zote; uhaujua moyo wake, kwa sababu wewe na ni wewe pekee unaijua mioyo ya wanadamu.

hear from your home in heaven, and forgive them. You alone know what each person is thinking, so reward each person according to everything that he does,

31 Fanya hivyo ili kwamba wakuogope wewe, ili waweze kutembea katika katika njia zako siku zote ambazo wataishi katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu.

in order that they will revere you and conduct their lives as you want them to, all the time that they live in this land that you gave to our ancestors.

32 Kwa mgeni ambaye siyo sehemu ya watu wako Israeli, lakini ambaye- kwa sababu ya ukuu wa jina lako, mkono wako wenye nguvu, na mkono wako ulionyoshwa- akija na kuomba kuelekea sehemu nyumba hii,

“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 turn toward this temple and pray,

33 basi sikiliza mbinguni, sehemu ambayo unaishi, na fanya yote ambayo mgeni atakuomba, ili kwamba watu wote wa dunia walijue jina lako na kukuogopa wewe, kama wafanyavyo watu wako Israeli, na kwamba waweze kujua kwamba nyumba hii niliyoijenga inaitwa kwa jina lako.

from your home in heaven listen to their prayer, and do for them what they request you to do. Do that in order that all the people-groups in the world will know about you and revere you, like we, your own Israeli people do. And then they will know that this is the temple that I have caused to be built for you.

34 Ikiwa kwamba watu wako wakaenda nje kupigana dhidi ya adui zao, kwa njia yoyote amabayo unaweza kuwatuma, na ikiwa kwamba wakaomba kwako kuelekea mji huu ambao umeuchagua, na kuelekea nyumba ambayo nimeijenga kwa ajili ya jina lako.

“When you send your people to go to places to attack 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 to honor you,

35 Basi sikiliza maombi yao mbinguni, ombi lao, na uwasaidie.

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

36 Kama wametenda dhambi dhidi yako—kwa kuwa hakuna asiye tenda dhambi—na ikiwa una hasira nao na kuwakabidhi kwa adui zao, ili kwamba adui wakawabeba na kuwachukua kama mateka kwa ajili ya nchi zao, iwe mbali au karibu.

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

37 Kisha wakatambua kuwa wako katika nchi ambako wamewekwa utumwani, na ikiwa watatubu na kutafuta msaada kwako katika utumwa wao. ikiwa watasema, 'Tumetenda kinyume na kutenda dhambi. Tumetenda kwa uovu,'

When that happens, while they are in the countries to which they were forced to go, if they are sorry for having sinned, if they say, ‘We have sinned; we have done things that are wrong and have done things that are very wicked,’

38 ikiwa watarudi kwako kwa mioyo yao yote na kwa nia yao yote katika nchi ya utumwa wao, ambako walichuliwa kama mateka, na ikiwa wataomba kukabili nchi yao, uliyowapa babu zao, na kukabili mji ambao uliuchagua na kukabili nyumba ambayo niliijenga kwa ajili ya jina lako.

if they repent very sincerely, and if they 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 pray,

39 Basi sika kutoka mbinguni, mahali unapoishi, sikia kuomba kwao na maombi na wayaombayo, na uwasaidie shida zao. Wasamehe watu wako, ambao wamekutenda dhambi.

then from your home in heaven hear their prayer, and listen to them while they plead [for your help], and do what they ask you to do, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.

40 Sasa, Mungu wangu, ninakusihi, uyafungue macho yako, na masikio yako yasiskie maombi yatakayofanywa katika sehemu hii.

“Now, my God, look at us and listen to us as we pray to you in this place.

41 Sasa basi, amka, Yahwe Mungu, kwenye mahali pako pa kupumzikia, Wewe na sanduku la nguvu zako. Makuhani wako, Yahwe Mungu, wavikwe wokovu, na watakatifu wako wafurahi katika wema.

Yahweh our God, come and stay in this place with the Sacred Chest, the chest that shows that you are powerful. Yahweh God, cause your priests to know clearly that you have blessed them. Cause us your people to rejoice because of all the good things [that you do for us].

42 Yahwe Mungu, usiugeuze nyuma uso wa masihi wako. Yakumbuke matendo yako katika agano lako la ufalme kwa ajili ya Daudi, mtumishi wako.

Yahweh God, do not reject me [the king] whom you have appointed [to be the king of Israel]; do not forget that you greatly loved David, who served you [very well].”