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.

And it came to pass when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and his own house after twenty years, then king Solomon assembled all the elders of Israel in Sion, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, this is Sion,

2 Wɔn nyinaa behyiaa wɔ ɔhene anim wɔ afirihyia afahyɛ a wɔfrɛ no Guankɔbea Afahyɛ no ase wɔ ɔsram Bul (bɛyɛ Ahinime) mu.

in the month of Athanin.

3 Bere a ntuanofo no duu Israel no, asɔfo no maa adaka no so.

And 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 the tabernacle of testimony, and the holy furniture that was in the tabernacle of testimony.

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.

And the king and all Israel [were occupied] before the ark, sacrificing sheep [and] oxen, without number.

6 Afei, asɔfo no maa Awurade Apam Adaka no so, de kɔɔ Asɔredan no Kronkron mu Kronkron hɔ. Wɔde sii kerubim no ntaban ase.

And the priests bring in the ark into its place, into the oracle of the house, even into the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubs.

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 cherubs spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubs covered the ark and its holy things above.

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.

And the holy staves projected, and the ends of the holy staves appeared out of the holy places in front of the oracle, and were not seen without.

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 tables of stone, the tables of the covenant which Moses put [there] in Choreb, which [tables] the Lord made [as a covenant] with the children of Israel in their going forth from the land of Egypt.

10 Asɔfo no refi Kronkron mu Kronkron hɔ no, omununkum bɛhyɛɛ Awurade Asɔredan no ma.

And it came to pass when the priests departed out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house.

11 Asɔfo no antumi antoa wɔn dwumadi no so, efisɛ Awurade anuonyam bɛhyɛɛ Asɔredan no ma.

And the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, because the glory of the Lord filled the house.

12 Na Salomo bɔɔ mpae se, “Awurade, woaka se wobɛtena omununkum kabii mu.

13 Nanso masi Asɔredan a ɛwɔ anuonyam ama wo a wubetumi atena mu afebɔɔ.”

14 Na ɔhene no dan ne ho de kyerɛɛ Israelfo a wogyinagyina nʼanim no, hyiraa wɔn se,

And the king turned his face, and the king blessed all Israel, (and the whole assembly of Israel stood: )

15 “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn a wadi bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ mʼagya Dawid no so.

and he said, Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel today, who spoke by his mouth concerning David my father, and has fulfilled it with his hands, 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.’”

From the day that I brought out my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in [any] one tribe of Israel to build a house, so that my name should be there: but I chose Jerusalem that my name should be there, and I chose 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.

And it was in the heart of my father to build a house to the name of the Lord God of Israel.

18 Nanso Awurade ka kyerɛɛ no se, ‘Eye sɛ wopɛ sɛ wusi Asɔredan de hyɛ me din anuonyam,

And the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it came into your heart to build a house to my name, you did well that it came upon your heart.

19 nanso ɛnyɛ wo na wobɛyɛ. Mmom, wo mmabarima no mu baako na obesi.’

Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son that has proceeded out of your bowels, he shall build the house to 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.

And the Lord has confirmed the word that he spoke, and I am risen up in the place of my father David, and I have sat down on the throne of Israel, as the Lord spoke, and I have built the house to the name of the Lord 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 I have set there a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord, which the Lord 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.

And Solomon stood up in front of the altar before all the congregation of Israel; and he spread out his hands towards 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 he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above and on the earth beneath, keeping covenant and mercy with your servant who walks before you with all his heart;

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.

which you have kept towards your servant David my father: for you have spoken by your mouth and you have fulfilled it with your hands, as [at] 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.’

And now, O Lord God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father, [the promises] which you have spoken to him, saying, There shall not be taken from you a man sitting before me on the throne of Israel, provided only your children shall take heed to their ways, to walk before me as you have walked before me.

26 Enti afei, Israel Nyankopɔn, di bɔ a woahyɛ wo somfo, mʼagya Dawid no so.

And now, O Lord God of Israel, let, I pray you, your word to David my father be confirmed.

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 with men upon the earth? if the heaven and heaven of heavens will not suffice you, how much less even this house which I have built to your name?

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, O Lord God of Israel, you shall look upon my petition, to hear the prayer which your servant prays to you in your presence this day,

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.

that your eyes may be open towards this house day and night, even towards the place which you said, My name shall be there, to hear the prayer which your servant prays at this place day and night.

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.

And you shall listen to the prayer of your servant, and of your people Israel, which they shall pray towards this place; and you shall hear in your dwelling-place in heaven, and you shall do and be gracious.

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,

Whatsoever trespasses any [one] shall commit against his neighbour, —and if he shall take upon him an oath so that he should swear, and he shall come and make confession before your altar in this house,

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 shall you hear from heaven, and do, and you shall judge your people Israel, that the wicked should be condemned, to recompense his way upon his head; and to justify the righteous, to give to 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 falls before enemies, because they shall sin against you, and they shall return and confess to your name, and they shall pray and supplicate in this house,

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 shall you hear from heaven, and be gracious to the sins of your people Israel, and you shall restore them to the land which 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 heaven is restrained, and there is no rain, because they shall sin against you, and the shall pray towards this place, and they shall make confession to your name, and shall turn from their sins when you shall have humbled 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 you shall hear from heaven, and be merciful to the sins of your servant and of your people Israel; for you shall show them the good way to walk in it, and you shall give rain upon the earth which you have given to your people for 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,

If there should be famine, if there should be death, because there should be blasting, locust, or if there be mildew, and if their enemy oppress them in [any] one of their cities, [with regard to] every calamity, every trouble,

38 sɛ wo nkurɔfo bɔ mpae wɔ wɔn haw ne awerɛhow ho, na wɔpagyaw wɔn nsa wɔ asɔredan yi mu a,

every prayer, every supplication whatever shall be made by any man, as they shall know each the plague of his heart, and shall spread abroad his hands to this house,

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.

then shall you listen from heaven, out of your established dwelling-place, and shall be merciful, and shall do, and recompense to [every] man according to his ways, as you shall know his heart, for you alone know the heart of all the children of men:

40 Na wobesuro wo, na wɔanantew wʼakwan so, mmere dodow a wɔte asase a wode maa yɛn agyanom no so.

that they may fear you all the days that they live upon the land, which you have given to our fathers.

41 “Na sɛ ananafo te wo nka, na wofi akyirikyiri nsase so ba bɛsom wo din kɛse no a,

And for the stranger who is not of your people,

42 wɔbɛte wo nka, wo nsɛnkyerɛnne akɛse no ne wo tumi ho asɛm, na sɛ wɔbɔ mpae wɔ saa asɔredan yi mu a,

when they shall come and pray towards this place,

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 shall you hear [them] from heaven, out of your established dwelling-place, and you shall do according to all that the stranger shall call upon you for, that all the nations may know your name, and fear you, as [do] your people Israel, and may know that your name has been called on this house which I have builded.

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,

[If it be] that your people shall go forth to war against their enemies in the way by which you shall turn them, and pray in the name of the Lord towards the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built to your name,

45 ɛno de, tie wɔn mpaebɔ fi ɔsoro, na yɛ wɔn abisade ma wɔn.

then shall you hear from heaven their supplication and their prayer, and shall execute judgement for them.

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.

[If it be] that they shall sin against you, (for there is not a man who will not sin, ) and you shall bring them and deliver them up before their enemies, and they that take [them] captive shall carry [them] to a land 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 they shall turn their hearts in the land whither they have been carried captives, and turn in the land of their sojourning, and supplicate you, saying, We have sinned, we have done unjustly, we have transgressed,

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 they shall turn to you with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies whither you have carried them captives, and shall pray to you towards their land which you have given to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built to your name:

49 ɛno de, tie wɔn mpaebɔ fi ɔsoro baabi a wote hɔ. Yɛ wɔn apɛde ma wɔn,

then shall you hear from heaven your established dwelling-place,

50 na fa wo nkurɔfo a wɔayɛ bɔne atia wo no bɔne kyɛ wɔn. Ma wɔn nnommumfafo nhu wɔn mmɔbɔ,

and you shall be merciful to their unrighteousness wherein they have trespassed against you, and according to all their transgressions wherewith they have transgressed against you, and you shall cause them to be pitied before them that carried them captives, and they shall have compassion on them:

51 efisɛ wɔyɛ wo nkurɔfo, wʼagyapade sononko a wuyii wɔn fii Misraim dadenan nyansramma mu.

for [they are] your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, out of the midst of the furnace of iron.

52 “Bue wʼani ma mʼabisade ne wo nkurɔfo Israelfo abisade. Bere biara a wobesu afrɛ wo no, tie wɔn, na gye wɔn so.

And let your eyes and your ears be opened to the supplication of your servant, and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them in all things for which they shall call upon 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.”

Because you have set them apart for an inheritance to yourself out of all the nations of the earth, as you spoke by the hand of your servant Moses, when you brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, O Lord God.

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.

And it came to pass when Solomon had finished praying to the Lord all this prayer and supplication, that he rose up from before the altar of the Lord, [after] having knelt upon his knees, and his hands [were] spread out towards heaven.

55 Ogyinaa hɔ teɛɛ mu, hyiraa Israelfo no se,

And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with 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 this day, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he said: there has not failed one word amongst all his good words which he spoke by the hand of 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; let him not desert us nor turn from 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.

that he may turn our hearts towards him to walk in all his ways, and to keep all his commandments, and his ordinances which 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 let these words, which I have prayed before the Lord our God, [be] near to the Lord our God day and night, to maintain the cause of your servant, and the cause of your people Israel for ever.

60 Ma nnipa a wɔwɔ asase so nyinaa nhu sɛ Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn, na onyame foforo biara nni hɔ.

that all the nations of the earth may know that the Lord God, he [is] God, and there is none beside.

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.”

And let our hearts be perfect towards the Lord our God, to walk also holily in his ordinances, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

62 Na ɔhene no ne Israelfo a wɔka ne ho no bɔɔ afɔre maa Awurade.

And the king and all the children of Israel offered sacrifice 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 king Solomon offered for the sacrifices of peace-offering which he sacrificed to the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and hundred and twenty thousand sheep: and the king and all the children of Israel 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.

In that day the king consecrated the middle of the court in the front of the house of the Lord; for there he offered the whole burnt offering, and the sacrifices, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which was before the Lord [was too] little to bear the whole burnt offering and the sacrifices of peace-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.

And Solomon kept the feast in that day, and all Israel with him, even a great assembly from the entering in of Hemath to the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God in the house which he built, eating and drinking, and rejoicing before the Lord our God seven days.

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.

And on the eighth day he sent away the people: and they blessed the king, and each departed to his tabernacle rejoicing, and [their] heart [was] glad because of the good things which the Lord had done to his servant David, and to Israel his people.