Bhokisi le Tjidumano lozhisiwa ku Ng'umba ye Ndzimu
(2 Zwiyitikalo 5:2—6:2)1 Ipapo Mambo Solomoni kadana sholotjena dze Iziraela, misholo yose ye njudzi na boshe be misha ye Iziraela kuti bazhe kunli ku Jerusalema kuti batole Bhokisi le Tjidumano tja Yahwe mu Ziyoni nzi nkulu wa Dafite, balizhise ku Ng'umba ya Yahwe. 2 Bathu bose bakakubunganila kuna Mambo Solomoni mu nsi we Nzano we Mishasha mu mwedzi we kutendeka we Ethanimu. 3 Sholotjena dzose dze Iziraela dzikazha, ngono bapirisiti bakatola Bhokisi le Tjidumano. 4 Bapirisiti ne Balevi bakatola Bhokisi le Tjidumano tja Yahwe ne nshasha we bushanganilo ne zwija zose zwakayengemala zwakabe zwili mu nshasha. 5 Ngono Mambo Solomoni ne gubungano lose le Baiziraela bakabe bakubunganila mbeli kukwe, bakabe banaye mbeli kwe Bhokisi le Tjidumano bepisa zwibhayilo zwe pkhwizi ne ng'ombe dze bunji gusibushoma, gusinga balike. 6 Ndizo bapirisiti bakatola Bhokisi le Tjidumano tja Yahwe bakalizhisa pa bugalo gwalo, pa bugalo gwakayengemala gutjamukati kwe Ng'umba ye Ndzimu, Bugalo gwakayengemala kupindisa, kusi kwe mapapilo e dzikherubhu. 7 Mapapilo e dzikherubhu akabe akaangama pezhugwi kwe bugalo gose gwe Bhokisi le Tjidumano kuyitila kuti dzikherubhu dzizwimbe kose ne mapango alakabe lakagadzikwa muali. 8 Ngono mapango akabe ali malefu kwakabe theswi dzawo dzakabe dziboneka uli pa bugalo gwakayengemala mbeli kwe Bugalo gwakayengemala kupindisa. Koga dzisingake dzikabong'wa nge ukuzhe. Ngono mapango iyawo atjiyapo na nasi. 9 Kwakabe kusina tjimwe mu Bhokisi le Tjidumano kuzhe kwe mabgwe mabili e zwileiti akabe alongwa ndi Mushe ku Horebu, Yahwe pabakathama tjidumano ne Baiziraela, basinobe babhuda mu shango ye Egipiti.
10 Kukati bapirisiti babhuda mu bugalo gwakayengemala, gole likazhala Ng'umba ya Yahwe. 11 Bapirisiti bakasitubule kuthama mishingo yabo ngekwe gole ilelo ngoti tjedza tja Yahwe tjakabe tjili zhele ng'umba ya Yahwe. 12 Ipapo Solomoni kati,
“Yahwe bakati banowogala mu zhalima lakati zwititi.
13 Tjoselele ndakamubakila ng'umba ye tjimo tjipezhugwi,
bugalo gwenyu gwamunogala mukati nge kusingapele.”
Solomoni unolebeleka ne bathu
(2 Zwiyitikalo 6:3-11)14 Kukati gubungano lose le Iziraela lili mile ipapo, Mambo Solomoni katendebuka kabakombolela. 15 Ngono kabe eti, “Ngakukudziwe Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela bati nge luboko gwabo bakashingikadza tjabakagadzabgwe tate bangu Dafite beti, 16 ‘Tjinga kwe zhuba landakadusa bathu bangu Baiziraela mu Egipiti, akuna nzi nkulu mu njudzi dzose dze Iziraela wandakashalulila kubakigwa ng'umba inowogala zina langu. Koga ndakashalula Dafite kubusa bathu bangu Baiziraela.’ 17 Kukagala kuli mu moyo wa tate bangu Dafite kuti banowobakila zina la Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela ng'umba. 18 Koga Yahwe bakadwa tate bangu Dafite bakati, ‘Kwakalulwama kuti kube kuli mu moyo uwo kuti ubakile zina langu ng'umba, 19 nenguba kwakajalo, aungabakile zina langu ng'umba, koga mwana uwo unowozwagwa ndiye unowobakila zina langu ng'umba.’ 20 Ngono ngwenu Yahwe bashingikadza kugadzabgwe, ngobe ndamuka mu bumo gwa tate bangu Dafite, agala mu tjigalo tje bushe gwe Iziraela Yahwe sekwa bakagadzabgwe, kakale ndabakila zina la Yahwe, Ndzimu we Iziraela ng'umba. 21 Ngwenu ndathamila Bhokisi le Tjidumano bugalo, ilo lakasenga tjidumano tja Yahwe tjabakathama nabo tate bedu, zhuba labaka badusa mu shango ye Egipiti.”
Ntembezelo wa Solomoni
(2 Zwiyitikalo 6:12-42)22 Ndizo Solomoni kama mbeli kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe, mbeli kwe gubungano lose le Iziraela, kamilidza maboko awe akaalingisa ku zhuzhugwi, 23 ngono katembezela eti, “Imwi Yahwe, Ndzimu we Iziraela, akuna Ndzimu unonga imwi kudzimu pezhugwi kene pasi mu shango, molondolodza tjidumano tjenyu ne ludo gusingazunguzike mu balanda benyu ha be muhwa nge moyo yabo yose. 24 Makalondolodza kugadzabgwe kwenyu kwamakagadzabgwe nlanda wenyu tate bangu Dafite, nasi mashingikadza dama lenyu limwe ne limwe nge masimba enyu. 25 Ndizo ngwenu, Yahwe, Ndzimu we Iziraela, londolodzani tjamakagadzabgwe nlanda wenyu tate bangu Dafite muti, ‘Akutowoshayika nlume mu zwizekugwana zwizo unowogala pa tjigalo tje bushe gwe Iziraela, ha bakololo babo banga be ne njele mu zila dzabo, beyenda mbeli kwangu sekwa wakabe uyenda mbeli kwangu iwe.’ 26 Ndizo ngwenu, imwi Ndzimu we Iziraela, thamani kuti kugadzabgwe kwamakagadzabgwe nlanda wenyu tate bangu Dafite kuzhadzisike.
27 “Apa dumbu Ndzimu ungagala mu shango kene? Naiko kudzimu na pezhugwizhugwi akungabe bugalo gwakamulizana. Ngono ng'umba iyeyi yandakabaka ina bukulu gungapani gwaingamulizana kene? 28 Nenguba kwakajalo Yahwe Ndzimu wangu, itilani hanya ntembezelo we nlanda wenyu muamutjile kukumbila kukwe ne ntembezelo waanotembezela mbeli kwenyu nasi, 29 kuti zhisho lenyu libe pezhugwi kwe ng'umba iyeyi siku ne sikati, bugalo igogu gwamakaleba muti, ‘Zina langu lowobe muili,’ ndizo muhwe ntembezelo unotembezegwa nge nlanda wenyu akalinga bugalo igogu. 30 Ihwani kukumbila kwe nlanda wenyu nekwe bathu benyu Baiziraela ha betembezela bakalinga bugalo igogu. Ihwani muli mu bugalo gwenyu kudzimu muamutjile mutizwiibhatigwe.
31 “Ha nthu atjinyila ikamu tjitje tjibe tjinlonga bhiso, ngono kube kuyi atune, ebe ezha etuna mbeli kwe tjibeso tjenyu tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo mu ng'umba iyeyi, 32 ipapo Yahwe, muhwe muli kudzimu mutole thambo. Sumikilisani balanda benyu, mulobe shamu una nlandu nge kunkhiga nlandu uwe mu nsholo, mubuzile nlulwami kuyenda nge ndulamo iye.
33 “Ha bathu benyu Baiziraela bamutjinyila, bebe bekundiwa nge zwita zwabo mbeli kwenyu, koga bebe beshandukila kumuli, bedana zina lenyu, betembezela bemukumbila bali mu ng'umba iyeyi, 34 mubahwe muli kudzimu, muzwiibhatigwe zwibi zwe bathu benyu Baiziraela, mube mubabgwiliza ku shango yamakapa bobatategulu babo.
35 “Ha kudzimu kwazhaligwa vula isingane ngobe bathu benyu bamutjinyila, ngono ha beshandukila zwibi zwabo, belinga ku ng'umba iyeyi, betembezela bedana zina lenyu, ngoti mubaloba, 36 mubahwe muli kudzimu, muzwiibhatigwe zwibi zwe balanda benyu Baiziraela. Mubadiye ndulamo, kuyenda mu zila yabakafanila yenda muili. Mube mubanisila vula mu shango yabo, yamakabapa kube thaka.
37 “Ha kuna bhamba mu shango, ha kuna bugwele kene mathunde ali zwimbubgwi kene ana hwuzwi kene ejiwa nge phashu kene nge zwikonyana, kene bathu banginiligwa nge zwita zwabo mu mizi yabo, kene kuna gatekate le bugwele kene kuna bugwele gwawa, 38 muhwe mitembezelo yabo. Ha mmwe we bathu benyu Baiziraela, ezha nge kuhwa zogwadza, bemilidzila maboko abo ku ng'umba iyeyi betembezela, 39 muhwe mitembezelo yabo. Mubahwe muli mu nzi wenyu kudzimu, mubabhatshe. Ndimwi moga munoziba zwimu moyo ye bathu. Mubhatshe nthu mmwe ne mmwe kuyendidzana ngokumbila kukwe. 40 Kuti ndizo bathu benyu bamuhwe mu zwibaka zose bali mu shango yamakapa bobatategulu bedu.
41 “Nenge ntaya usi we ludzi gwe bathu benyu Baiziraela, ha angazha edwa ku shango ikulekule, ezhila zina lenyu, 42 ahwa ngekwe zwithu zwikulu zwamakathamila bathu benyu nge luboko gwenyu gusingatayile pamwe, ezha kowotembezela mu ng'umba iyeyi, 43 munhwe muli mu bugalo gwenyu kudzimu. Ngono munthamile kuyendidzana ne sekwa kose ntaya amukumbila ndiko. Kuti ndizo bathu bose mu shango yose bazibe zina lenyu bamutje, sekwa bathu benyu Baiziraela bethama. Ne kuti bazibe kuti ng'umba iyeyi yandakabaka inodang'wa nge zina lenyu.
44 “Ha bathu benyu bebhuda beyenda ku ngwa, kunogwa ne zwita zwabo, bebe betembezela bakalinga nzi nkulu uwoyu wamakashalula ne ng'umba iyeyi yandakabakila zina lenyu, 45 muhwe mitembezelo ne kukumbila kwabo muli kudzimu, ngono mubape gwendo.
46 “Ha bathu benyu bangamuthamila tjibi, ngoti akuna nthu usingake kathama tjibi, ngono kube kuti nge bushongola gwenyu mube mubalonga mu maboko e zwita zwabo, kuti ndizo batapigwe ku shango ye zwita zwabo, kulekule kene pejopejo, 47 bebe beti bali ku shango yabakatapigwa ko bebe bemukumbula mu moyo yabo, ngono bebe beshanduka, bemutembezela bali mu shango ya bakatapigwa beti, ‘Takatjinya, ngono tikabhuda mu zila tikathama mbipo,’ 48 ha bashanduka mu mikumbulo yabo yose ne mu moyo yabo yose bali mu shango ye zwita zwabo, zwakabatapa, bebe betembezela bakalinga ku shango yabo yamakapa bobatategulu babo, nzi nkulu wamakashalula ne ku ng'umba iyeyi yandakabakila zina lenyu, 49 muhwe mitembezelo ne kukumbila kwabo muli mu bugalo gwenyu ku dzimu, mubahwile ngoni. 50 Muzwiibhatigwe zwibi zwabo ne kupanduka kwabo, mbeli kwe bakabatapa, kuti na ibo babahwile ngoni, 51 ngoti bathu benyu, lukata gwenyu, gwamakadusa mu Egipiti, mu bhuba puba le moto we tshipi.
52 “Mulinge kukumbila kwe nlanda wenyu ne kukumbila kwe bathu benyu Baiziraela nge mesho ana ngoni, mubahwilile ha bemudana. 53 Ngoti makabashalula mu zwitjaba zose zwe shango kube thaka yenyu sekwa makaleba kuna Mushe nlanda wenyu pamakadusa bobatategulu bedu mu Egipiti, imwi She Yahwe.”
Ntembezelo we bupelo
54 Kukati Solomoni apedza mitembezelo yose ne kukumbila kuna Yahwe, kamilika mbeli kwe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tja Yahwe paakabe akathigama akamilidzila maboko pezhugwi enamata. 55 Ngono kamilika kakumbilila gubungano lose le Iziraela makombolelo eti, 56 “Ngakukudziwe Yahwe bakanyatutusa bathu babo Baiziraela kuyendidzana ne kugadzabgwe kwabo kose, kusina ne dama ne ling'ompela lose le kugadzabgwe kwabo kwakanaka kwabakaleba na Mushe lakawila pasi. 57 Yahwe Ndzimu wedu ngababe naswi. Basitisiye kene kuli kutifupatila, 58 koga ngabashandulile moyo yedu ku bali kuti titobele zila dzabo dzose, ne kulondolodza milayo yabo yabakapa bobatategulu bedu. 59 Dzene matama e kukumbila kwangu kuna Yahwe, angabe pejo na Yahwe Ndzimu wedu siku ne sikati. Yahwe babe ne ngoni ne nlanda wabo nenge bathu babo Baiziraela, kuyendidzana ngoshaya kwabo zhuba ne zhuba. 60 Kuti ndizo zwitjaba zwe shango yose zwizibe kuti Yahwe ndibo Ndzimu bali boga akuna mmwe Ndzimu kakale. 61 Ndizo imwi bathu ba Yahwe, mudzikame mube ne lebeswa muna Yahwe Ndzimu wedu, mutobele ndaulo dzabo, mulondolodze milayo yabo, sekwa kuli iko nasi.”
Kupiwa kwe Ng'umba ye Ndzimu
(2 Zwiyitikalo 7:4-10)62 Ndizo Mambo Solomoni ne Iziraela yose naye, bakadusila Yahwe zwibhayilo. 63 Solomoni kadusila Yahwe zwibhayilo zwe shatho, ng'ombe dzili zwiwulu zwili makumi mabili ana kubili (22 000) ne pkhwizi dzili zwiwulu zwili zana lina makumi ali mabili (120 000). Mambo ne bathu bose be Iziraela bakabe betola ng'umba beipa Yahwe. 64 Mu zhuba ilo zwalo mambo bakayengemadza pakati kwe nsha wakabe uli mbeli kwe Ng'umba ye Ndzimu. Kapisila zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa ne tjipo tje mathunde ne mafuta e tjibhayilo tje shatho ipapo, ngobe tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tje phangula tjakabe tjili mbeli kwa Yahwe tjakabe tjisakaswika kupisigwa zwipo zose zwakabe zwakafanila pisiwa. 65 Ipapo mu Ng'umba ye Ndzimu, Solomoni ne gubungano lose le Iziraela bakadwa babhata Nzano we Mishasha wakatola mazhuba ali kutendeka. Kwakabe kuli mbunga nkulu we bathu kudwa ku nkoba we Hamati kunoti ku n'gathu we Egipiti, bali mbeli kwa Yahwe, Ndzimu wedu. 66 Kukati mu zhuba le buzhanakadzi mambo kapaladza bathu. Bakapalala beyenda ku mizi yabo bakashatha bepululudza, bekudza mambo, mu bubuya gose Yahwe gwabakathamila nlanda wabo Dafite ne bathu babo Baiziraela.
Solomon Brings the Sacred Chest to the Temple
(2 Chronicles 5.2—6.2)1-2 The sacred chest had been kept on Mount Zion, also known as the city of David. But Solomon decided to have the chest moved to the temple while everyone was in Jerusalem, celebrating the Festival of Shelters during Ethanim, the seventh month of the year.
Solomon called together the important leaders of Israel. 3-4 Then the priests and the Levites carried to the temple the sacred chest, the sacred tent, and the objects used for worship. 5 Solomon and a crowd of people stood in front of the chest and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted.
6 The priests carried the chest into the most holy place and put it under the winged creatures, 7 whose wings covered both the chest and the poles used for carrying it. 8 The poles were so long that they could be seen from right outside the most holy place, but not from anywhere else. And they stayed there from then on.
9 The only things kept in the chest were the two flat stones Moses had put there when the Lord made his agreement with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, after bringing them out of Egypt.
10 Suddenly a cloud filled the temple as the priests were leaving the most holy place. 11 The Lord's glory was in the cloud, and the light from it was so bright that the priests could not stay inside to do their work. 12 Then Solomon prayed:
“Our Lord, you said that you
would live in a dark cloud.
13 Now I have built a glorious temple
where you can live forever.”
Solomon Speaks to the People
(2 Chronicles 6.3-11)14 Solomon turned toward the people standing there. Then he blessed them 15-16 and said:
Praise the Lord God of Israel! Long ago he brought his people out of Egypt. He did not choose a city from any tribe in Israel where his temple would be built, but he kept his promise to make my father David the king of Israel.
17 So when David wanted to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel, 18 the Lord said, “It's good that you want to build a temple where I can be worshiped. 19 But you're not the one to do it. Your son will build a temple to honor me.”
20 The Lord has done what he promised. I am the king of Israel like my father, and I've built a temple for the Lord our God. 21 I've also made a place in the temple for the sacred chest. And in that chest are the two flat stones on which is written the solemn agreement the Lord made with our ancestors when he led them out of Egypt.
Solomon Prays at the Temple
(2 Chronicles 6.12-42)22 Solomon stood facing the altar with everyone standing behind him. Then he lifted his arms toward heaven 23 and prayed:
Lord God of Israel, no other god in heaven or on earth is like you!
You never forget the agreement you made with your people, and you are loyal to anyone who faithfully obeys your teachings. 24 My father David was your servant, and today you have kept every promise you made to him.
25 Lord God of Israel, you promised my father that someone from his family would always be king of Israel, if they do their best to obey you, just as he did. 26 Please keep this promise you made to your servant David.
27 There's not enough room in all of heaven for you, Lord God. How could you possibly live on earth in this temple I have built? 28 But I ask you to answer my prayer. 29 This is the temple where you have chosen to be worshiped. Please watch over it day and night and listen when I turn toward it and pray. 30 I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So whenever any of us look toward this temple and pray, answer from your home in heaven and forgive our sins.
31 Suppose someone accuses a person of a crime, and the accused has to stand in front of the altar in your temple and say, “I swear I am innocent!” 32 Listen from heaven and decide who is right. Then punish the guilty person and let the innocent one go free.
33 Suppose your people Israel sin against you, and then an enemy defeats them. If they come to this temple and beg for forgiveness, 34 listen from your home in heaven. Forgive them and bring them back to the land you gave their ancestors.
35 Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn toward this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning, 36 listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you gave them to be theirs forever.
37 Sometimes the crops may dry up or rot or be eaten by locusts or grasshoppers, and your people will be starving. Sometimes enemies may surround their towns, or your people will become sick with deadly diseases. 38 Listen when anyone in Israel truly feels sorry and sincerely prays with arms lifted toward your temple. 39 You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts. 40 Then your people will worship and obey you for as long as they live in the land you gave their ancestors.
41-42 Foreigners will hear about you and your mighty power, and some of them will come to live among your people Israel. If any of them pray toward this temple, 43 listen from your home in heaven and answer their prayers. Then everyone on earth will worship you, just like your people Israel, and they will know that I have built this temple to honor you.
44 Our Lord, sometimes you will order your people to attack their enemies. Then your people will turn toward this temple I have built for you in your chosen city, and they will pray to you. 45 Answer their prayers from heaven and give them victory.
46 Everyone sins. But when your people sin against you, suppose you get angry enough to let their enemies drag them away to foreign countries. 47-49 Later, they may feel sorry for what they did and ask your forgiveness. Answer them when they pray toward this temple I have built for you in your chosen city, here in this land you gave their ancestors. From your home in heaven, listen to their sincere prayers and do what they ask. 50 Forgive your people no matter how much they have sinned against you. Make the enemies who defeated them be kind to them. 51 Remember, they are the people you chose and rescued from Egypt that was like a blazing fire to them.
52 I am your servant, and the people of Israel belong to you. So listen when any of us pray and cry out for your help. 53 When you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, you told your servant Moses to say to them, “From all people on earth, the Lord God has chosen you to be his very own.”
Solomon Blesses the People
54 When Solomon finished his prayer at the altar, he was kneeling with his arms lifted toward heaven. He stood up, 55 turned toward the people, blessed them, and said loudly:
56 Praise the Lord! He has kept his promise and given us peace. Every good thing he promised to his servant Moses has happened.
57 The Lord our God was with our ancestors to help them, and I pray that he will be with us and never abandon us. 58 May the Lord help us obey him and follow all the laws and teachings he gave our ancestors.
59 I pray that the Lord our God will remember my prayer day and night. May he help everyone in Israel each day, in whatever way we need it. 60 Then every nation will know that the Lord is the only true God.
61 Obey the Lord our God and follow his commands with all your heart, just as you are doing today.
Solomon Dedicates the Temple
(2 Chronicles 7.4-10)62-63 Solomon and the people dedicated the temple to the Lord by offering 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep as sacrifices to ask the Lord's blessing. 64 On that day, Solomon dedicated the courtyard in front of the temple and made it acceptable for worship. He offered the sacrifices there because the bronze altar in front of the temple was too small.
65 Solomon and the huge crowd celebrated the Festival of Shelters at the temple for seven days. There were people from as far away as the Egyptian Gorge in the south and Lebo-Hamath in the north. 66 Then on the eighth day, he sent everyone home. They said goodbye and left, very happy, because of all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people Israel.