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.

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which [is] Zion.

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 assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which [is] the seventh month.

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

And all the elders of Israel came, 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 they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that [were] in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring 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.

And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, [were] with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

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 brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims.

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 cherubims spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof 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 they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy [place] before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto 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 save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of 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 were come out of the holy [place], that 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 to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

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

Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

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

I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.

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

And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation 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, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled [it], 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 that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but 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 David my father to build an house for 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 unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.

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

Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto 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 hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for 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, wherein [is] the covenant of the LORD, which 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.

And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth 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 he said, LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their 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.

Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled [it] with thine hand, as [it is] 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, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.

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

And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.

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 on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

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 have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to 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 thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, [even] toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make 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.

And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, 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,

If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine 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 hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give 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 thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee 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 hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto 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 heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest 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 hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy 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 be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, [or] if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness [there be; ]

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

What prayer and supplication soever be [made] by any man, [or] by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward 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 hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, [even] thou only, knowest the hearts 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 thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

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

Moreover concerning a stranger, that [is] not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake;

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 shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm; ) when he shall come and pray toward this house;

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.

Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as [do] thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy 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,

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and [toward] the house that I have built for thy name:

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

Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain 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.

If they sin against thee, (for [there is] no man that sinneth not, ) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

47 Na saa ahɔhosase no so, wɔde ahonu san ba wo nkyɛn, bɔ mpae se, ‘Yɛayɛ bɔne; yɛayɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ne atirimɔdensɛm,’

[Yet] if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;

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 [so] return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:

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

Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,

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

And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:

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

For they [be] thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from 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.

That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.

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 thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, [to be] thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out 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 was [so], that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to 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, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

57 Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn, nka yɛn ho sɛnea ɔkaa yɛn agyanom ho no; ɔrennyaw yɛn da biara da.

The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not 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.

That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, 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 my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:

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

That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD [is] God, [and that there is] none else.

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.”

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, 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 Israel with him, 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 Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So 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.

The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that [was] before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that [was] before the LORD [was] too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the 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 at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, [even] fourteen 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.

On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.