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 did Solomon assemble the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the divisions of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, to 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 these 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 its place, into the debir of the house, into the most holy place, under 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 forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its staves from 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 had made the staves so long, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place in the front of the debir, but they were not seen without; and they have remained there until 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 had placed therein at Horeb, where 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.

And the priests were not able to 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 said 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 indeed built a dwelling-house for thee, a settled place for thy abode 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 was standing;

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

And he said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, when he said,

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 did not make choice of any city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be therein; but I made choice of 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 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 unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:

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

Nevertheless, thou shalt not thyself 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 fulfilled his word that he hath spoken: and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord hath spoken, and 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 I have assigned there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them forth 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 now placed himself 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, O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like thee, in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath, thou who keepest the covenant and the kindness for 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 for thy servant David my father what thou hadst promised him; and thou spokest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy 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.’

And now, O Lord, the God of Israel, keep for thy servant David my father what thou hast spoken concerning him, saying, There shall never fail thee a man in my sight who sitteth on the throne of Israel; if thy children but take heed to their way to 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, I pray thee, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken 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.

For in truth will God then dwell on the earth? behold, the heavens and the heavens of heavens cannot contain thee: how much less then this house that 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 wilt thou turn thy regard unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to listen unto the entreaty and unto the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee 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.

That thy eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there; that thou mayest listen unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray at 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 listen thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they will pray at this place: and oh, do thou hear in heaven thy dwelling-place; and 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,

If any man trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thy 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 do thou hear in heaven, and act, and judge thy servants, by condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and by 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 are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and they return then 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 do thou hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and cause them to return unto the land which thou hast given 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 the heavens be shut up, and there be no rain, because they have sinned against thee, and they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, because thou hast 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 do thou hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel; for thou wilt teach them the good way wherein they should walk; and give then 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 a famine in the land, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, or if there be locust, caterpillar, if their enemy besiege them in the land of their gates; at whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness;

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, of all thy people Israel, when they shall be conscious every man of the plague of his own heart, and he then 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 do thou hear in heaven the place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and act, and give to every man in accordance with all his ways, as thou mayest know his heart; for thou, thyself alone, knowest 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.

In order that they may fear thee all the days that they live on the face of the land which thou hast given unto our fathers.

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

But also to the stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far-off country for the sake of thy 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 thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy outstretched arm; when he will come and pray at 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.

Mayest thou listen in heaven the place of thy dwelling, and do according to all that the stranger will call on thee for; in order that all the nations of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as [do] thy people Israel; and that they may understand that this house, which I have built, 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, on the way on which thou mayest send them, and they do pray unto the Lord in the direction of the city which thou hast chosen, and of 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 procure them justice.

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 may not sin, ] and thou be angry with them, and give them up before the enemy, so that their captors carry them away captive unto the land of the enemy, [be it] 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 if they then take it to their heart in the land whither they have been carried captive, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captors, saying, We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, 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 they return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, who have led them away captive, and they pray unto thee in the direction of their land, which thou hast given unto their fathers, of the city which thou hast chosen, and of 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 in heaven the place of thy dwelling their prayer and their supplication, and procure them justice;

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

And forgive thy people for what they have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions whereby they have transgressed against thee, and cause them to find mercy before their captors, that they may have mercy on them;

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

For they are thy people, and thy heritage, whom thou hast brought forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace;

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

That thy eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to listen unto them in all for which they call 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 hast separated them unto thee as a heritage from all the people of the earth, as thou spokest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest forth our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Eternal.

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 happened, 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 out toward heaven.

55 Ogyinaa hɔ teɛɛ mu, hyiraa Israelfo no se,

And he stood up, 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, who hath given rest unto his people Israel, in accordance with all that he hath spoken: [so that] there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he spoke 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; oh may he 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 heart unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, 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 may these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the Lord, be nigh unto the Lord our God day and night, that he may maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel in their daily requirements;

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

In order that all the nations of the earth may know that the Lord is the [true] God, and 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 entire 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 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] the sacrifice of peace-offering which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. And thus did the king and all the children of Israel dedicate 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 the same day did the king hallow the interior of the court that was before the house of the Lord; for he prepared there the burnt-offerings, and the meat-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings; because the copper altar that was before the Lord was too small to contain the burnt-offerings, and the 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 Solomon held at that time the feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Chamath 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 dismissed the people, and they blessed the king; and they went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart, because of all the good that the Lord had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.