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.
Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem all the elders of Israel, all the leaders of the tribes, and the leaders of the clans. He wanted them to join in bringing Yahweh’s Sacred Chest from Zion [Hill to the temple], where it was in the part of the city called ‘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.
So all the Israeli leaders came to King Solomon during the Festival of [Living in Temporary] Shelters, in October.
3 Bere a ntuanofo no duu Israel no, asɔfo no maa adaka no so.
When they had all arrived, the priests lifted up the Sacred Chest
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 brought it to the temple. The descendants of Levi [who assisted the priests] helped them to carry to the temple the Sacred Tent and all the sacred things that had been in the tent.
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.
Then King Solomon and many of the Israeli people who had gathered in front of Yahweh’s Sacred Chest sacrificed a huge amount of sheep and oxen. No one was able to count the sacrifices [because there were so many].
6 Afei, asɔfo no maa Awurade Apam Adaka no so, de kɔɔ Asɔredan no Kronkron mu Kronkron hɔ. Wɔde sii kerubim no ntaban ase.
The the priests then brought the Sacred Chest into the Very Holy Place in the temple, and they placed it under the wings of the [statues of the] winged creatures.
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.
The wings of those statues spread out over the Sacred Chest and over the poles by which it was carried.
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 were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen [by people who were standing] at the entrance to the Most Holy Place, but they could not be seen [by people standing] outside the temple. Those poles are still there.
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.
The only things that were in the Sacred Chest were the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Sinai [Mountain], where Yahweh made an agreement with the people after they left Egypt.
10 Asɔfo no refi Kronkron mu Kronkron hɔ no, omununkum bɛhyɛɛ Awurade Asɔredan no ma.
When the priests came out of the temple, [suddenly] it was filled with a cloud.
11 Asɔfo no antumi antoa wɔn dwumadi no so, efisɛ Awurade anuonyam bɛhyɛɛ Asɔredan no ma.
It was the glory/radiance of Yahweh that filled the temple, with the result that the priests were not able to continue their work.
12 Na Salomo bɔɔ mpae se, “Awurade, woaka se wobɛtena omununkum kabii mu.
Then Solomon prayed this: “Yahweh, you have placed the sun in the sky, but you have decided that you would live in very dark [clouds].
13 Nanso masi Asɔredan a ɛwɔ anuonyam ama wo a wubetumi atena mu afebɔɔ.”
I have built for you a magnificent temple, a place for you to live in forever.”
14 Na ɔhene no dan ne ho de kyerɛɛ Israelfo a wogyinagyina nʼanim no, hyiraa wɔn se,
Then, while all the people stood there, the king turned around and faced them, and he [asked God to] bless them.
15 “Nhyira nka Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn a wadi bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ mʼagya Dawid no so.
He said, “Praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis belong! By his own power he has done what he promised to give to my father David. What he promised was this:
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 time that I brought my people out of Egypt, I have never chosen any city in Israel in which a temple should be built for my people to worship me there. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.”
17 Na Salomo kaa se, “Mʼagya Dawid pɛɛ sɛ osi Asɔredan yi de hyɛ Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn din anuonyam.
[Then Solomon said], “My father David wanted to build a temple in order that we Israeli people could worship Yahweh our God there.
18 Nanso Awurade ka kyerɛɛ no se, ‘Eye sɛ wopɛ sɛ wusi Asɔredan de hyɛ me din anuonyam,
But Yahweh said to him, ‘You have wanted to build a temple for me, and what you wanted to do was good.
19 nanso ɛnyɛ wo na wobɛyɛ. Mmom, wo mmabarima no mu baako na obesi.’
However, you are not the one [who I want] to build it. It is one of your sons, who [I want to] build a temple for me.’
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 now Yahweh has done what he promised to do. I have become the king of Israel to succeed my father, and I am ruling my people, like Yahweh promised. I have [arranged for] this temple [to be] built for us Israelis to worship Yahweh, the God, to whom we Israelis belong.
21 Na masiesie baabi wɔ hɔ ama Adaka a Awurade Apam a ɔne yɛn agyanom yɛɛ wɔ bere a oyii wɔn fii Misraim no.”
I have also provided a place [in the temple] for the Sacred Chest in which are the two stone tablets [on which are engraved the Ten Commandments of] the agreement that Yahweh made with our ancestors when he brought them out 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 in front of the altar which was facing the Israeli people who had gathered there. He spread out his arms 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 prayed, “Yahweh, the God whom we Israeli people [belong to/worship], there is no god like you up in heaven or down here on the earth. You solemnly promised that you would faithfully love us. And that is what you have done for us who earnestly do what you want us to do.
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 done the things that you promised my father David, who served you [very well], that you would do. Truly, you promised to do these things for him, and today we see that by your power you have done them.
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.’
So now, Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [belong to/worship], please do the things that you promised my father that you would do. You told him that there would always be some of his descendants who would rule Israel, if they would conduct their lives as he did.
26 Enti afei, Israel Nyankopɔn, di bɔ a woahyɛ wo somfo, mʼagya Dawid no so.
So now, God of us Israeli people, cause what you promised to do for my father David, who served you [well], to happen.
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 God, you cannot really live on the earth. There is surely not enough space for you in the sky, or even in the heaven. So there is surely not enough space for you to live in this temple that my workers 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.
But Yahweh, my God, please listen to me while I am praying to you 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.
Please keep protecting this temple night and day. This is the place about which you have said, ‘I will always be there.’ I request that you listen to me whenever I turn toward this temple and pray.
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.
I request that when I pray to you and your people pray to you while they turn toward this place, that in your home in heaven you will hear us and forgive us [for the sins that we have committed].
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 someone is accused of doing something wrong to another person, and they bring him to your altar outside this holy temple, and if he says, ‘I did not do that; may God punish me if I am not telling the truth,’
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 you listen from heaven, and decide who is telling the truth. Then punish the person who is guilty as he deserves to be punished, and declare that the other person is innocent.
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,
And when your Israeli people are defeated by their enemies [in a battle] because they have sinned against you, [and if they are forced to go to some distant country, ] if they turn away from their sinful behavior and turn toward this temple and admit that you [have justly punished them], and if they plead [that you will forgive them],
34 ɛno de, tie fi ɔsoro, na fa wɔn bɔne kyɛ wɔn, na ma wɔnsan nkɔ asase a wode maa wɔn agyanom no so.
listen to them from heaven, and forgive your Israeli people for the sins that they [have committed], and bring them back to this land that you gave to our ancestors.
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,
And when you do not allow any rain to fall on the land because your people have sinned against you, if they turn toward this temple and admit that you [have justly punished them], if they turn away from their sinful behavior and [humbly] pray to you,
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.
listen to them from heaven, and forgive your Israeli people for the sins [that they have committed]. Teach them the right way to conduct their lives. Then send rain on this land that you have given to your people to belong to them [permanently].
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,
And when the people of this land experience famines, or if there is a plague/illness that causes many people to become sick, or if [their crops are destroyed by] very hot winds or [by] mildew or [by] locusts or grasshoppers, or when their enemies surround any of their cities [in order to attack them], if any of those bad things happen to them,
38 sɛ wo nkurɔfo bɔ mpae wɔ wɔn haw ne awerɛhow ho, na wɔpagyaw wɔn nsa wɔ asɔredan yi mu a,
when your Israeli people earnestly plead with you knowing that they are suffering because they [have sinned], and if they stretch out their arms toward this temple and pray,
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.
listen to them from your home in heaven, and forgive them, and help them. You are the only one who knows what people are thinking, so act toward everyone as they deserve,
40 Na wobesuro wo, na wɔanantew wʼakwan so, mmere dodow a wɔte asase a wode maa yɛn agyanom no so.
in order that your people may then have an awesome respect for you, all the years that they live in this land that you gave to our ancestors.
41 “Na sɛ ananafo te wo nka, na wofi akyirikyiri nsase so ba bɛsom wo din kɛse no a,
There will be some foreigners who do not belong to your Israeli people who have come here from countries far away because they have heard that you are very great and that you perform great miracles. If they come here to this temple to worship you and pray,
42 wɔbɛte wo nka, wo nsɛnkyerɛnne akɛse no ne wo tumi ho asɛm, na sɛ wɔbɔ mpae wɔ saa asɔredan yi mu a,
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.
in your home in heaven, listen to their prayers, and do for them what they request you to do. Do that so that all the people-groups in the world will know about you and revere you, like we your Israeli people do. And then they will know that this temple that I have [caused to be] built to honor you, is where you [should be worshiped].
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,
And if you send your people to go to fight against their enemies, if they pray to you, wherever they are, if they turn toward this city that you have chosen and toward this temple that I have caused to be built for you,
45 ɛno de, tie wɔn mpaebɔ fi ɔsoro, na yɛ wɔn abisade ma wɔn.
listen in heaven to their prayers; listen to what they plead for you to do, and assist 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.
[It is true that] everyone sins. So, if your people sin against you, and you become angry with them, you may allow their enemies to defeat them and capture them and take them away to their enemies’ country, even to countries that are far away.
47 Na saa ahɔhosase no so, wɔde ahonu san ba wo nkyɛn, bɔ mpae se, ‘Yɛayɛ bɔne; yɛayɛ amumɔyɛsɛm ne atirimɔdensɛm,’
If that happens, while they are in those countries to which they were forced to go, if they sincerely repent and plead with you there saying ‘We have sinned and have done things that are very wicked,’
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,
if they very sincerely repent, and turn toward this land that you gave to our ancestors, and toward this city that you have chosen [to be the place where we should worship you], and toward this temple that I have [caused to be] built for you, and if they pray,
49 ɛno de, tie wɔn mpaebɔ fi ɔsoro baabi a wote hɔ. Yɛ wɔn apɛde ma wɔn,
then from your home in heaven listen to them while they plead [for your help], and assist them.
50 na fa wo nkurɔfo a wɔayɛ bɔne atia wo no bɔne kyɛ wɔn. Ma wɔn nnommumfafo nhu wɔn mmɔbɔ,
Forgive them for all the sins that they [have committed] against you, and cause their enemies to be kind to them.
51 efisɛ wɔyɛ wo nkurɔfo, wʼagyapade sononko a wuyii wɔn fii Misraim dadenan nyansramma mu.
Do not forget that the Israelis are your people; they are your special possession; you brought [our ancestors] out of Egypt where [they were greatly suffering as though] they were in a blazing furnace.
52 “Bue wʼani ma mʼabisade ne wo nkurɔfo Israelfo abisade. Bere biara a wobesu afrɛ wo no, tie wɔn, na gye wɔn so.
I request that you always listen to your Israeli people and to me, their king, and heed their prayers whenever they call out to you [to help them].
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.”
You chose them from all the other people-groups in the world to belong to you, which is what you told Moses to tell them when you brought our ancestors 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.
After Solomon had finished praying and pleading to Yahweh [for his help], he stood up in front of the altar where he had been kneeling. He lifted up his arms.
55 Ogyinaa hɔ teɛɛ mu, hyiraa Israelfo no se,
Then he [asked God to] bless all the Israeli people. [He prayed] loudly, 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.
“Praise Yahweh, who has given us his people peace, like he promised that he would do. He has done every one of the good things that he promised to Moses, the man who served him [very well].
57 Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn, nka yɛn ho sɛnea ɔkaa yɛn agyanom ho no; ɔrennyaw yɛn da biara da.
I pray that our God will be with us like he was with our ancestors, and that he will never abandon 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.
I pray that he will cause us to loyally serve him, to conduct our lives as he wants us to, and to obey all his commandments and statutes and laws that he gave to our ancestors.
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.
I pray that Yahweh our God will never forget these words that I have prayed, pleading for his help; I pray that he will think about them by day and by night. I pray that he will always help [us] Israeli people and me, giving us the things that we need day by day.
60 Ma nnipa a wɔwɔ asase so nyinaa nhu sɛ Awurade yɛ Onyankopɔn, na onyame foforo biara nni hɔ.
If he does that, all the people-groups in the world will know that he is the only one who is God, and that there is no other one who is God.
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.”
I pray that you, [his people, ] will always be fully committed to Yahweh, and that you will obey all his statutes and commands, like you are doing now.”
62 Na ɔhene no ne Israelfo a wɔka ne ho no bɔɔ afɔre maa Awurade.
Then the king and all the Israeli people who were there offered sacrifices to Yahweh.
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.
They sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. Then the king and all the people dedicated the temple.
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 day, the king also dedicated/set apart the middle part of the courtyard that was in front of the temple. Then he offered sacrifices that would be completely burned [in the courtyard], the offerings of grain and the fat of the animals that were sacrificed to maintain fellowship with Yahweh. They sacrificed them there because the bronze altar was not big enough for all those sacrifices to be burned on it [that day].
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.
Then Solomon and all the Israeli people celebrated the Festival of [Living in Temporary] Shelters for seven days. There was a huge crowd of people there, some of whom had come from [distant places like] Hamath [in the far north] and the border of Egypt [in the far south].
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, Solomon sent the people to their homes. They all praised him and went home happy because of all the things that Yahweh had done to bless [King] David and his Israeli people.
