1 Ahemfo 8
1 Afei, Salomo frɛɛ Israel mmusuakuw ne mmusua biara mu ntuanofo nyinaa, sɛ wonhyia wɔ Yerusalem. Na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔfa Awurade Apam Adaka no fi baabi a ɛwɔ wɔ Dawid kurow a wɔfrɛ no Sion no mu, de ba baabi foforo wɔ Asɔredan mu hɔ.
At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.
2 Wɔn nyinaa behyiaa wɔ ɔhene anim wɔ afirihyia afahyɛ a wɔfrɛ no Guankɔbea Afahyɛ no ase wɔ ɔsram Bul (bɛyɛ Ahinime) mu.
And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim.
3 Bere a ntuanofo no duu Israel no, asɔfo no maa adaka no so.
When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,
4 Afei, asɔfo no ne Lewifo maa Awurade Adaka no ne Ntamadan no so, soa de kɔɔ Asɔredan no mu a ɛho nkuku ne nkaka a wɔatew ho no ka ho.
and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its sacred furnishings. So the priests and Levites carried them up.
5 Ɔhene Salomo ne Israelfo no nyinaa twaa nguan ne anantwi a wɔn dodow nti, obi ntumi nkan wɔn, de bɔɔ afɔre wɔ adaka no anim.
There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
6 Afei, asɔfo no maa Awurade Apam Adaka no so, de kɔɔ Asɔredan no Kronkron mu Kronkron hɔ. Wɔde sii kerubim no ntaban ase.
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.
7 Kerubim no trɛw wɔn ntaban mu wɔ Adaka no so, ma ɛyɛɛ sɛ kyinii wɔ Adaka no ne ne nnua a esuso mu no so.
For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles.
8 Na nnua a esuso mu no woware ara kosi sɛ, sɛ obi gyina Asɔredan no kwan a ɛwɔ anim dan kɛse a ɛyɛ kronkronbea no ano a, ohu, nanso sɛ ogyina akyi de a, onhu. Ne nyinaa da so wɔ hɔ besi nnɛ.
The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.
9 Na biribiara nni Adaka no mu ka abo apon abien a Mose de guu mu wɔ Horeb no, faako a Awurade ne Israelfo yɛɛ apam, bere a wofii Misraim no.
There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites after they had come out of the land of Egypt.
10 Asɔfo no refi Kronkron mu Kronkron hɔ no, omununkum bɛhyɛɛ Awurade Asɔredan no ma.
And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD
11 Asɔfo no antumi antoa wɔn dwumadi no so, efisɛ Awurade anuonyam bɛhyɛɛ Asɔredan no ma.
so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
12 Na Salomo bɔɔ mpae se, “Awurade, woaka se wobɛtena omununkum kabii mu.
Then Solomon declared: “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.
13 Nanso masi Asɔredan a ɛwɔ anuonyam ama wo a wubetumi atena mu afebɔɔ.”
I have indeed built You an exalted house, a place for You to dwell forever.”
14 Na ɔhene no dan ne ho de kyerɛɛ Israelfo a wogyinagyina nʼanim no, hyiraa wɔn se,
And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all
15 “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn a wadi bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ mʼagya Dawid no so.
and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,
16 Na ɔka kyerɛɛ mʼagya se, ‘Efi da a mede me nkurɔfo Israel fi Misraim bae no, manyi kurow biara wɔ Israel mmusuakuw no mu a ɛsɛ sɛ wosi asɔredan, de hyɛ me din anuonyam. Nanso mprempren, mayi Dawid sɛ onni hene wɔ me nkurɔfo so.’”
‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’
17 Na Salomo kaa se, “Mʼagya Dawid pɛɛ sɛ osi Asɔredan yi de hyɛ Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn din anuonyam.
Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
18 Nanso Awurade ka kyerɛɛ no se, ‘Eye sɛ wopɛ sɛ wusi Asɔredan de hyɛ me din anuonyam,
But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Since it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you have done well to have this in your heart.
19 nanso ɛnyɛ wo na wobɛyɛ. Mmom, wo mmabarima no mu baako na obesi.’
Nevertheless, you are not the one to build it; but your son, your own offspring, will build the house for My Name.’
20 “Na mprempren, Awurade ayɛ nea ɔhyɛɛ ho bɔ no, efisɛ madi ade sɛ ɔhene, asi mʼagya anan mu. Masi saa Asɔredan yi de ahyɛ Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn din anuonyam.
Now the LORD has fulfilled the word that He spoke. I have succeeded my father David, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.
21 Na masiesie baabi wɔ hɔ ama Adaka a Awurade Apam a ɔne yɛn agyanom yɛɛ wɔ bere a oyii wɔn fii Misraim no.”
And there I have provided a place for the ark, which contains the covenant of the LORD that He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
22 Na Salomo gyinaa hɔ, pagyaw ne nsa kyerɛɛ ɔsoro wɔ Awurade afɔremuka no anim wɔ Israelfo no nyinaa anim.
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven,
23 Ɔbɔɔ mpae se, “Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, Onyame biara nni hɔ a ɔte sɛ wo wɔ ɔsoro anaa asase so. Wudi wo bɔhyɛ so, na woda wo dɔ a enni awiei adi kyerɛ wɔn a wotie wo, na wɔpɛ sɛ wɔyɛ wʼapɛde nso.
and said: “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping Your covenant of loving devotion with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
24 Wo bɔ a wohyɛɛ wo somfo Dawid a ɔyɛ mʼagya no, woadi so. Wʼankasa wʼano na wode hyɛɛ bɔ no, na nnɛ, wonam wʼankasa wo nsa so ama aba mu.
You have kept Your promise to Your servant, my father David. What You spoke with Your mouth You have fulfilled with Your hand this day.
25 “Afei, Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn kɔ so di wo bɔ a woahyɛ wo somfo, mʼagya Dawid, no so. Efisɛ woka kyerɛɛ no se, ‘Sɛ wʼasefo hwɛ wɔn abrabɔ yiye, sɛnea woayɛ yi a, daa wobedi Israel so.’
Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’
26 Enti afei, Israel Nyankopɔn, di bɔ a woahyɛ wo somfo, mʼagya Dawid no so.
And now, O God of Israel, please confirm what You promised to Your servant, my father David.
27 “Ɛyɛ nokware sɛ Onyankopɔn bɛtena nnipa mu wɔ asase so? Ɔsorosoro nohɔ mpo ntumi nkora wo, na ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na Asɔredan a masi yi betumi akora wo.
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
28 Tie me mpaebɔ ne mʼadesrɛ, Awurade, me Nyankopɔn. Tie sufrɛ a wo somfo resu ne mpae a wo somfo rebɔ akyerɛ wo nnɛ.
Yet regard the prayer and plea of Your servant, O LORD my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today.
29 Hwɛ saa Asɔredan yi so, baabi a woaka sɛ wode wo din bɛto so no, awia ne anadwo. Daa, tie me mpae a mebɔ wɔ ha no.
May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place.
30 Tie mʼahobrɛase ne nokware abisade a efi me ne wo nkurɔfo Israelfo nkyɛn, bere a yɛrebɔ mpae wɔ beae ha no. Yiw, tie yɛn fi ɔsoro a wote hɔ no, na sɛ wote a, fa kyɛ.
Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.
31 “Sɛ obi fom obi, na ɛho hia sɛ ɔka ho ntam sɛ onnim ho hwee wɔ afɔremuka no anim wɔ Asɔredan no mu a,
When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple,
32 ɛno de, tie fi ɔsoro, na bu wʼasomfo baanu no a ɛyɛ nea wɔabɔ no sobo no ne sobobɔfo no ntam atɛn. Nea odi fɔ no, twe nʼaso na gyaa nea odi bem no.
then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
33 “Sɛ atamfo di wo nkurɔfo Israel so, efisɛ wɔayɛ bɔne atia wo, na sɛ wɔdan ba wo nkyɛn, na wɔbɔ wo din frɛ wo, na wɔbɔ wo mpae wɔ Asɔredan mu ha a,
When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple,
34 ɛno de, tie fi ɔsoro, na fa wɔn bɔne kyɛ wɔn, na ma wɔnsan nkɔ asase a wode maa wɔn agyanom no so.
then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel. May You restore them to the land You gave to their fathers.
35 “Sɛ ɔsoro mu to, na osu ntɔ, efisɛ wo nkurɔfo ayɛ bɔne atia wo, na afei, wɔbɔ mpae wɔ Asɔredan mu ha, bɔ wo din, ka wɔn bɔne, na wɔdan fi wɔn bɔne ho, efisɛ woatwe wɔn aso a,
When the skies are shut and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and they turn from their sins because You have afflicted them,
36 ɛno de, tie fi ɔsoro, na fa wʼasomfo, wo nkurɔfo Israelfo, bɔne kyɛ wɔn. Kyerɛ wɔn nea eye, na ma osu ntɔ ngu wʼasase a wode ama wo nkurɔfo sɛ wɔn agyapade sononko no so.
then may You hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, so that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk. May You send rain on the land that You gave Your people as an inheritance.
37 “Sɛ ɔkɔm si asase no so anaa ɔyaredɔm ba so anaa nnɔbae nyarewa ba anaa mmoadabi ne asa begu nnɔbae so, anaa wo nkurɔfo atamfo ba asase no so betua wɔn nkurow a, sɛnea ɔhaw no te biara no,
When famine or plague comes upon the land, or blight or mildew or locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemy besieges them in their cities, whatever plague or sickness may come,
38 sɛ wo nkurɔfo bɔ mpae wɔ wɔn haw ne awerɛhow ho, na wɔpagyaw wɔn nsa wɔ asɔredan yi mu a,
then may whatever prayer or petition Your people Israel make—each knowing his own afflictions and spreading out his hands toward this temple—
39 tie fi ɔsoro, nea wote hɔ, na fa kyɛ. Fa biribiara a eye ma wo nkurɔfo ma wɔn, na wo nko ara na wunim onipa koma mu.
be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—
40 Na wobesuro wo, na wɔanantew wʼakwan so, mmere dodow a wɔte asase a wode maa yɛn agyanom no so.
so that they may fear You all the days they live in the land that You gave to our fathers.
41 “Na sɛ ananafo te wo nka, na wofi akyirikyiri nsase so ba bɛsom wo din kɛse no a,
And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your name—
42 wɔbɛte wo nka, wo nsɛnkyerɛnne akɛse no ne wo tumi ho asɛm, na sɛ wɔbɔ mpae wɔ saa asɔredan yi mu a,
for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,
43 tie fi ɔsoro hɔ a wote no, na yɛ wɔn abisade ma wɔn. Na ɛbɛma nnipa a wɔwɔ asase so nyinaa ahu, na wɔasuro wo, sɛnea wo ara wo nkurɔfo Israelfo yɛ no. Wɔn nso behu sɛ, wo din da saa Asɔredan a masi yi so.
then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
44 “Sɛ wohyɛ wo nkurɔfo ma wopue, kɔko tia wɔn atamfo, na sɛ wɔbɔ mpae, srɛ Awurade fa saa kurow yi a woayi yi, ne saa Asɔredan a masi de wo din ato so yi ho a,
When Your people go to war against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the LORD in the direction of the city You have chosen and the house I have built for Your Name,
45 ɛno de, tie wɔn mpaebɔ fi ɔsoro, na yɛ wɔn abisade ma wɔn.
then may You hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and may You uphold their cause.
46 “Sɛ wɔyɛ bɔne tia wo a, na hena na ɔnyɛɛ bɔne da? Wo bo befuw wɔn, na woama wɔn atamfo adi wɔn so, na wɔafa wɔn nnommum de wɔn akɔ ananasase a ɛwɔ akyiri anaasɛ ɛbɛn so.
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,
47 Na saa ahɔhosase no so, wɔde ahonu san ba wo nkyɛn, bɔ mpae se, ‘Yɛayɛ bɔne; yɛayɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ne atirimɔdensɛm,’
and when they come to their senses in the land to which they were taken, and they repent and plead with You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted wickedly,’
48 na sɛ wɔde wɔn koma ne wɔn kra nyinaa dan ba wo nkyɛn, na wɔbɔ mpae ma asase a wode maa wɔn agyanom no ho, saa kurow a woayi ne saa Asɔredan a masi de ahyɛ wo din anuonyam yi a,
and when they return to You with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them captive, and when they pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their fathers, the city You have chosen, and the house I have built for Your Name,
49 ɛno de, tie wɔn mpaebɔ fi ɔsoro baabi a wote hɔ. Yɛ wɔn apɛde ma wɔn,
then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, their prayer and petition, and may You uphold their cause.
50 na fa wo nkurɔfo a wɔayɛ bɔne atia wo no bɔne kyɛ wɔn. Ma wɔn nnommumfafo nhu wɔn mmɔbɔ,
May You forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions they have committed against You, and may You grant them compassion in the eyes of their captors to show them mercy.
51 efisɛ wɔyɛ wo nkurɔfo, wʼagyapade sononko a wuyii wɔn fii Misraim dadenan nyansramma mu.
For they are Your people and Your inheritance; You brought them out of Egypt, out of the furnace for iron.
52 “Bue wʼani ma mʼabisade ne wo nkurɔfo Israelfo abisade. Bere biara a wobesu afrɛ wo no, tie wɔn, na gye wɔn so.
May Your eyes be open to the pleas of Your servant and of Your people Israel, and may You listen to them whenever they call to You.
53 Efisɛ bere a wuyii yɛn agyanom fii Misraim no, Otumfo Awurade, woka kyerɛɛ wo somfo Mose se, woatew Israel afi aman a aka nyinaa a ɛwɔ asase yi so ho sɛ, wɔnyɛ wʼagyapade sononko.”
For You, O Lord GOD, as Your inheritance, have set them apart from all the peoples of the earth, as You spoke through Your servant Moses when You brought our fathers out of Egypt.”
54 Bere a Salomo wiee saa mpaebɔ ne nʼabisade a ɔde dan Awurade no, ogyinaa Awurade afɔremuka anim, faako a na ɔtaa bu nkotodwe no, na ɔmaa ne nsa so kyerɛɛ ɔsoro.
Now when Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the LORD, he got up before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.
55 Ogyinaa hɔ teɛɛ mu, hyiraa Israelfo no se,
And he stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying:
56 “Ayeyi nka Awurade a wama ne nkurɔfo Israelfo ɔhome, sɛnea ɔhyɛɛ ho bɔ no. Trenee bɔ a ɔnam Mose so daa no adi no mu baako koraa nni hɔ a amma mu.
“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.
57 Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn, nka yɛn ho sɛnea ɔkaa yɛn agyanom ho no; ɔrennyaw yɛn da biara da.
May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us nor forsake us.
58 Ɔmma yenya ɔpɛ a yɛde bɛyɛ nʼapɛde wɔ biribiara mu, na yenni mmara ne ahyɛde a ɔhyɛ de maa yɛn agyanom no nyinaa so.
May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.
59 Na ma ɔnkae saa nsɛm a magyina so de abɔ saa mpae wɔ Awurade anim yi daa awia ne anadwo, sɛnea Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn, betie me ne Israelfo, na wayɛ nea ehia yɛn daa ama yɛn.
And may these words with which I have made my petition before the LORD be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He may uphold the cause of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires,
60 Ma nnipa a wɔwɔ asase so nyinaa nhu sɛ Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn, na onyame foforo biara nni hɔ.
so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other!
61 Na mo a moyɛ ne nkurɔfo no, nni Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn, no nokware daa. Munni ne mmara ne nʼahyɛde so daa, sɛnea moyɛ no nnɛ yi.”
So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.”
62 Na ɔhene no ne Israelfo a wɔka ne ho no bɔɔ afɔre maa Awurade.
Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD.
63 Salomo bɔɔ asomdwoe afɔre maa Awurade. Nʼafɔrebɔde no yɛ anantwi mpem aduonu abien ne nguan mpem ɔha aduonu. Na ɔhene no ne Israel nyinaa daa Asɔredan no adi, de maa Awurade.
And Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD.
64 Saa da no ara, ɔhene no tew Asɔredan no adiwo no mfimfini a ɛka Awurade Asɔredan ho no ho. Ɔbɔɔ ɔhyew afɔre, atoko afɔre ne asomdwoe afɔre ho srade no wɔ hɔ, efisɛ na kɔbere mfrafrae afɔremuka a ɛwɔ Awurade anim no sua dodo sɛ ebetumi akora afɔrebɔde bebree.
On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD, and there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, since the bronze altar before the LORD was too small to contain all these offerings.
65 Na Salomo ne Israel nyinaa bɔɔ mu, dii Guankɔbea Afahyɛ wɔ Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn, anim. Nnipadɔm no fi Lebo Hamat wɔ atifi fam kosi Misraim asuwa wɔ anafo fam, na wɔbae. Afahyɛ yi kɔɔ so ara nnafua dunan. Emu nnanson na wɔde daa afɔremuka no adi, na wɔde mu nnanson nso dii Guankɔbea Afahyɛ no.
So at that time Solomon and all Israel with him—a great assembly of people from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt—kept the feast before the LORD our God for seven days and seven more days—fourteen days in all.
66 Afahyɛ no twaa mu no, Salomo maa ɔmanfo no kɔɔ wɔn kurom. Wɔrekɔ no nyinaa na wɔrehyira ɔhene no. Na wɔn nyinaa nyaa ahosɛpɛw ne ahotɔ, efisɛ Awurade ne ne somfo Dawid ne Israelfo adi no yiye.
On the fifteenth day Solomon sent the people away. So they blessed the king and went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things that the LORD had done for His servant David and for His people Israel.
