2 Nyakati 7
1 Sasa Selemani alipokuwa amemaliza kuomba, moto ukaja kutoka mbinguni na kuiteketeza sadaka ya kuteketezwa na dhabihu, na utukufu wa Yahwe ukaijaza nyumba.
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 Makuhani hawakuweza kuingia kwenye nyumba ya Yahwe, kwa sababu utukufu wake uliijaza nyumba yake.
The priests were unable to enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled it.
3 Watu wote wa Israeli wakaangalia juu moto uliposhuka chini na utukufu wa Yahwe ulikuwa juu ya nyumba. Wakalala kwa nyuso zao juu ya sakafu ya mawe, wakaabudu, na kutoa shukrani kwa Yahwe. Wakasema, “Kwa maana yeye ni mwema, kwa maana agano lake la kifame ladumu milele.”
When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”
4 Kwa hiyo mfalme na watu wote wakamtolea Yahwe sadaka Yahwe.
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 Mfalme Selemani akatoa sadaka ya ng'ombe ishirini na mbili elfu na kondoo 120, 000 na mbuzi. Kwa hiyo mfalme na watu wote wakaiweka wakifu nyumba ya Mungu.
And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6 Makuhani wakasimama, kila mmoja akasimama mahali pake pa kuhudumu; Walawi pia pamoja na vyombo vya muziki vya Yahwe, ambavyo mfalme Daudi alivitengeza kwa ajili ya kumpa shukrani Yahwe katika nyimbo, “Kwa maana uaminifu wa agano lake wadumu milele.” Makuhani wote wakapiga matarumbeta mbele yao, na Israeli wote wakasimama.
The priests stood at their posts, as did the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD and with which David had offered praise, saying, “For His loving devotion endures forever.” Across from the Levites, the priests sounded trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
7 Selemani akaitakasa sehemu ya katikati ya kiwanja cha mfalme mbele ya nyumba ya Yahwe. Humo akatoa sadaka za kuteketezwa na mafuta ya sadaka za amani, kwa sababu madhabahu ya shaba ambayo alikuwa ametengeza haikuweza kuzibeba sadaka, sadaka za nafaka, na za mafuta.
Then Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar he had made could not contain all these offerings.
8 Kwa hiyo Selemani akaitisha sikukuu wakati huo kwa siku saba, na Israeli wote pamaoja naye, kusanyiko kubwa, kutoka Lebo Hamathi mpaka kijito cha Misiri.
So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a very great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast for seven days.
9 Siku ya nane wakaitisha kusanyiko la makini, kwa maana kwa siku saba walishika kuwekwa wakfu kwa ile madhabahu.
On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar had lasted seven days, and the feast seven days more.
10 Katika siku ya ishini na tatu ya mwezi wa saba, Selemani akawatanya watu kwenda kwenye nyumba zao kwa furaha na mioyo ya shangwe kwa sababu ya wema aliokuwa ameuonesha Yahwe kwa Daudi, Selemani, Israeli, na watu wake.
On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the good things that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.
11 Hivyo Selemani akaimaliza nyumba ya Yahwe na nyumba yake mwenyewe. Kila kitu kilichokuja katika moyo wa Selemani kwa ajili ya kukitengeneza katika nyumba ya mfalme na katika nyumba yake mwenyewe, alikitimiza kwa mafanikio.
When Solomon had finished the house of the LORD and the royal palace, successfully carrying out all that was in his heart to do for the house of the LORD and for his own palace,
12 Yahwe akamtokea Selemani usiku na kusema kwake, “Nimesikia maombi yako, na nimeichagua sehemu hii kwa ajili yangu mwenyewe kama nyumba ya dhabihu.
the LORD appeared to him at night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 Kama nitazifunga mbingu ili kwamba kusiwepo mvua, au kama nitaamuru nzige waimeze nchi, au kama nitatuma magonjwa kati kati ya watu wangu,
If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people,
14 kisha watu wangu, ambao wameitwa kwa jina langu, watajinyenyekeza, kuomba, kuutafuta uso wangu, na kuziacha njia zao mbaya, nitasikia kutoka mbinguni, kuwasamehe dhambi zao, na kuiponya nchi yao.
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
15 Sasa macho yangu yatakuwa wazi na masikio yangu yatasikiliza maombi yanayofanywa katika sehemu hii.
Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
16 Kwa maana sasa nimeichagua na kauitakasa nyumba hii ili kwamba jina langu lipate kuwa humo milele. Masikio yangu na moyo wangu vitakuwako kila siku.
For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.
17 Kwako wewe, kama utatembe mbele zangu kama baba yako Daudi alivyotembea, ukitii yote nilyokuamuru na kuzishika sheria zangu na maagizo yangu,
And as for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, doing all I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and ordinances,
18 basi nitakithibitisha kiti cha enzi cha ufalme wako, kama nilivyosema katika agano na Daudi baba yako, niliposema, 'Mzaliwa wako hatashindwa kamwe kuwa mtawala katika Israeli.'
then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with your father David when I said, ‘You will never fail to have a man to rule over Israel.’
19 Lakin ukigeuka, na kuzisahau sheria zangu na amri amabzo nimeweka mbele yenu, na kama utaenda kuabudu miungu wengine na kuwasujudia,
But if you turn away and forsake the statutes and commandments I have set before you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods,
20 basi nitawang'oa kutoka kwenye nchi yangu amabayo nimewapa. Nyumba hii ambayo nimeitakasa kwa ajili ya jina langu, nitaitupilia mbali kutoka mbele zangu, na nitaifanya kuwa methali na utani miongini mwa watu wote.
then I will uproot Israel from the soil I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. I will make it an object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.
21 Ingawa hekalu hili hili zuri sana kwa sasa, kila mtu apitaye karibu yake atashangazwa na ataguna. Watauliza, 'Kwa nini Yahwe ameifanyia hivi nchi hii na nyumba hii',
And when this temple has become a heap of rubble, all who pass by it will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
22 wengine watajibu, 'Kwa sababu walimsahau Yahwe, Mungu wao, ambaye alikuwa amewatoa babu zao nje ya nchi ya Misiri, na wakashikamana na miungu wengine na kuwainamia chini na kuwaabudu. Hii ndiyo maana Yahwe ameleta majanga haya yote juu yao”
And others will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—because of this, He has brought all this disaster upon them.’”
