1 Wafalme 8

1 Kisha Sulemani akawakusanya wazee wa Israeli, wakuu wote wa makabila, na viongozi wa familia za wana wa Israeli, mbele yake kuleYerusalemu, ili waliingize ndani lile sanduku la agano la BWANA kutoka mji wa Daudi, ambao ni Sayuni.

Then Solomon sent for all the responsible men of Israel, and all the chiefs of the tribes, and the heads of families of the children of Israel, to come to him in Jerusalem to take the ark of the Lord's agreement up out of the town of David, which is Zion.

2 Wanaume wote wa Israeli walikusanyika mbele ya mfalme Sulemani kwenye sherehe, katika mwezi wa Ethanim, ambao ndio mwezi wa saba.

And all the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, the seventh month.

3 Wazee wote wa Israeli walikuja, na makuhani wakalibeba lile sanduku.

And all the responsible men of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

4 Wakalileta lile sanduku la BWANA, lIle hema la kukutania na mapambo yote matakatifu ambayo yalikuwa kwenye hema. Makuhani na Walawi wakavileta vitu hivi.

They took up the ark of the Lord, and the Tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels which were in the Tent; all these the priests and the Levites took up.

5 Mfame Sulemani na mkutano wote wa Israeli wakaja pamoja mbele ya sanduku, wakatoa sadaka za kondoo na makisai ambazo hazikuweza kuhasabika.

And King Solomon and all the men of Israel who had come together there, were with him before the ark, making offerings of sheep and oxen more than might be numbered.

6 Makuhani wakalingiza ndani lile sanduku la agano la BWANA na wakaliweka mahali pake, ndani ya chumba cha ndani, patakatifu sana, chini ya yale mabawa ya makerubi.

And the priests took the ark of the agreement of the Lord and put it in its place in the inner room of the house, in the most holy place, under the wings of the winged ones.

7 Kwa kuwa makerubi walitandaza mabawa yao hadi mahali pa sanduku la agano, na walifunika sanduku na miti yake kwani ilitumika kulibeba.

For their wings were outstretched over the place where the ark was, covering the ark and its rods.

8 Ile miti ilikuwa mirefu sana kiasi kwamba miishio yake ilionekana tokea kwenye eneo takatifu mbele ya chumba cha ndani, lakini haikuweza kuonekana kutokea nje. Miti hiyo iko mpaka leo.

The rods were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place, in front of the inmost room; but they were not seen from outside: and there they are to this day.

9 Ndani ya sanduku hapakuwemo na kitu chochote isipokuwa vile vidonge vya mawe ambavyo Musa aliviweka alipokuwa mlima Horebu, wakati BWANA alipofanya agano na watu wa Israeli walipotoka kwenye nchi ya Misri.

There was nothing in the ark but the two flat stones which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made an agreement with the children of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt.

10 Ilitokea kwamba wakati makuhani walipotoka mahali patakatifu, lile wingu lilifunika hekalu la BWANA.

Now when the priests had come out of the holy place, the house of the Lord was full of the cloud,

11 Makuhani hawakuweza kusimama kwa ajili ya kutumika kwa sababu utukufu wa BWANA ulifunika hekalu.

So that the priests were not able to keep their places to do their work because of the cloud, for the house of the Lord was full of the glory of the Lord.

12 Kisha Sulemani akasema, “BWANA amsema kuwa anaweza kuishi hata kwenye giza nene,

Then Solomon said, O Lord, to the sun you have given the heaven for a living-place, but your living-place was not seen by men;

13 Lakinni nimekujengea makao ya kujivunia, mahali pako pa kuishi milele.”

So I have made for you a living-place, a house in which you may be for ever present.

14 Kisha mfalme akageuka na kuwabariki mkusanyiko wa watu wa Israeli, wakati huo mkusanyiko wa Waisraeli walikuwa wamesimama.

Then, turning his face about, the king gave a blessing to all the men of Israel; and they were all on their feet together.

15 Akasema, “BWANA, Mungu wa Israeli, asifiwe, ambaye alisema na baba yangu Daudi, na ametimiza kwa mikono yake, akisema,

And he said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who himself gave his word to David my father, and with his strong hand has made his word come true, saying,

16 'Tangu siku ile niliyowatoa watu wangu Israeli kutoka Misri, sikuchagua mji wowote toka kwa makabila yote ya Israeli ambako ningeijenga nyumba, kwa ajili ya jina langu kuwemo humo. Hata hivyo, nilimchagua Daudi kuwatawala watu wangu Israeli.

From the day when I took my people Israel out of Egypt, no town in all the tribes of Israel has been marked out by me for the building of a house for the resting-place of my name; but I made selection of David to be king over my people Israel.

17 Sasa ilikuwa kwenye moyo wa Daudi baba yangu kujenga nyumba kwa jina la BWANA, Mungu wa Israeli.

Now it was in the heart of David my father to put up a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

18 Lakini BWANA alimwambia baba yangu Daudi, 'Ilikuwa ndani ya moyo wako kunijengea nyumba kwa jina langu, ulifanya vyema kwa hilo kuwa ndani ya moyo wako.

But the Lord said to David my father, You did well to have in your heart the desire to make a house for my name;

19 Ingawa hutanijengea nyumba; badala yake mwanao, mmoja wa wanao atakayezaliwa toka viunoni mwako, atanijengea nyumba kwa jina langu,'

But you yourself will not be the builder of my house; but your son, the offspring of your body, he it is who will put up a house for my name.

20 BWANA amelibeba lile neno slilokuwa amesema, kwa kuwa nimeinuka mahali pa baba yangu Daudi, na nimeketi kwenye kiti cha enzi cha Israeli, kama BWANA alivyoahidi. Nimeijenga nyumba kwa jina la BWANA, Mungu wa Israeli.

And the Lord has made his word come true; for I have taken my father David's place on the seat of the kingdom of Israel, as the Lord gave his word; and I have made a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

21 Nimetengeneza mahali kwa ajili ya sanduku ndani yake, ambamo ndani yake kuna agano la BWANA, ambalo alifanya na baba zetu alipowatoa toka nchi ya Misri,”

In it I have made a place for the ark, in which is the agreement which the Lord made with our fathers, when he took them out of the land of Egypt.

22 Sulemani alisimama mbele ya madhabahu ya BWANA, mbela ya mkusanyiko wote wa Waisraeli, naye akanyosha mikono yake kuelekea mbinguni.

Then Solomon took his place before the altar of the Lord, all the men of Israel being present, and stretching out his hands to heaven,

23 Akasema, “BWANA, Mungu wa Israeli, hakuna Mungu kama wewe juu mbinguni au chini duniani, ambaye hutunza agano lake kwa uaminifu kwa watumishi wako ambao hutembea mbele yako kwa mioyo yao yote;

Said, O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on the earth; keeping faith and mercy unchanging for your servants, while they go in your ways with all their hearts.

24 wewe ambaye umetunza ahadi yako na mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu ile uliyomwahidi. Naam, ulisema kwa kinywa chako na sasa umeitimiza kwa mkono wako, kama ilivyo leo.

And you have kept the word which you gave to your servant David, my father; with your mouth you said it and with your hand you have made it come true this day.

25 Sasa basi, BWANA, Mungu wa Israeli, timiza kile ulichomwahidi mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu, pale uliposema, 'Hautashindwa kunipa mtu mbele ya macho yangu ambaye ataketi katika kiti cha enzi cha Israeli, kama tu uzao wako watakuwa waangalifu kutembea mbele yangu, kama vile wewe ulivyotembea mbele yangu.'

So now, O Lord, the God of Israel, let your word to your servant David, my father, come true, when you said, You will never be without a man to take his place on the seat of the kingdom of Israel before me, if only your children give attention to their ways, walking before me as you have done.

26 Sasa basi, Mungu wa Israeli, Ninaomba kwamba ile ahadi uliyofanya kwa mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu, itimie.

So now, O God of Israel, it is my prayer that you will make your word come true which you said to your servant David, my father.

27 Je, ni kweli kwamba Mungu ataishi duniani? Tazama, Ulimwengu wote na mbingu hazikutoshi - sembuse nyumba hii niliyoijenga!

But is it truly possible that God may be housed on earth? see, heaven and the heaven of heavens are not wide enough to be your resting-place; how much less this house which I have made!

28 Kwa hiyo Mungu naomba uyajali maombi haya ya mtumishi wako na maombi yake, BWANA, Mungu wangu; sikiliza kilio na maombi ambayo mtumishi wako anakuomba leo.

Still, let your heart be turned to the prayer of your servant, O Lord God, and to his prayer for grace; give ear to the cry and the prayer which your servant sends up to you this day;

29 Naomba ulitazame hekalu hili mchana na usiku, mahali ambapo ulisema, 'Jina langu na uwepo wangu utakuwa' - ili niweze kuwa nasikiliza maombi ambayo mtumishi wako ataomba mahali hapa.

That your eyes may be open to this house night and day, to this place of which you have said, My name will be there; hearing the prayer which your servant may make, turning to this place.

30 Kwa hiyo sikia maombi ya mtumishi wako na ya watu wako Israeli tunapokuwa tunaomba mahali hapa. Ndiyo, sikia kutokea mahali ambapo unaishi, kutoka katika mbingu za mbingu; na unaposikia tafadhali samehe.

Give ear to the prayers of your servant, and the prayers of your people Israel, when they make their prayers, turning to this place; give ear in heaven your living-place, and hearing, have mercy.

31 Kama mtu atamtendea uovu jirani yake na anapewa sharti la kiapo, na kama atakuja na kuapa mbele ya madhabahu yako katika nyumba hii,

If a man does wrong to his neighbour, and has to take an oath, and comes before your altar to take his oath in this house:

32 basi usikie kutoka mbinguni ukatende na kuwahukumu watumishi wako, ukamhukumu mwovu, ili kuwaletea tabia zake kichwani mwake, na kumtunza mwenye haki kuwa hana hatia, na kumpa thawabu yake ya haki.

Then let your ear be open in heaven, and be the judge of your servants, giving your decision against the wrongdoer, so that punishment for his sins may come on his head; and, by your decision, keeping from evil him who has done no wrong.

33 Watu wako Israeli watakapopigwa na adui kwa sabau ya kutenda dhambi dhidi yako, na kama watakurudia, na kulikiri jina lako, na kukusihi, na kuomba msamaha kwako katika hekalu hili-

When your people Israel are overcome in war, because of their sin against you; if they are turned to you again, honouring your name, making prayers to you and requesting your grace in this house:

34 tafadhali nakuomba usikie kutoka mbinguni na usamehe dhambi za watu wako Israeli; uwarudishe katika nchi ambayo uliwapa mababu zao.

Then give ear in heaven, and let the sin of your people Israel have forgiveness, and take them back again into the land which you gave to their fathers.

35 Kama mbingu zitafungwa na mvua hazinyeshi kwa sababu watu wamekutenda dhambi wewe - na kama wataomba mahali hapa, na kulikiri jina lako, na kugeuka toka dhambi zao na kama umewapiga -

When heaven is shut up and there is no rain, because of their sin against you; if they make prayers with their faces turned to this place, honouring your name and turning away from their sin when you send trouble on them:

36 basi sikia tokea mbinguni na usamehe dhambi za watumishi wako na za watu wako Israeli, utakapowafundisha njia njema inayowapasa; basi uinyeshee mvua nchi yako, ambayo uliwapa watu wako kuwa urithi.

Then give ear in heaven, so that the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, may have forgiveness, when you make clear to them the good way in which they are to go; and send rain on your land which you have given to your people for their heritage.

37 Na kama kuna njaa katika nchi, au kama kuna magonjwa, au ukungu, nzige au funza; au kama adui atavamia malango ya mji katika nchi yao, kama kuna tauni au magonjwa yeyote -

If there is no food in the land, or if there is disease, or if the fruits of the earth are damaged through heat or water, locust or worm; if their towns are shut in by their attackers; whatever trouble, whatever disease there may be:

38 na kama kuna mtu au wata wa Israeli wataomba - kila mmoja akaijua hiyo tauni katika moyo wake wakati akinyosha mikono yake katika hekalu hili.

Whatever prayer or request for your grace is made by any man, or by all your people Israel, whatever his trouble may be, whose hands are stretched out to this house:

39 Basi usikie kutoka mbinguni, mahali unapoishi, utende na kusamehe, na umpe kila mtu thawabu anayostahili kwa kile anachofanya; wewe unajua moyo wake, kwa sababu ni wewe pekee yako ujuaye mioyo ya watu.

Give ear in heaven your living-place, acting in mercy; and give to every man whose secret heart is open to you, the reward of all his ways; for you, and you only, have knowledge of the hearts of all the children of men:

40 Fanya hivi ili kwamba wawe na hofu kwako katika siku zote za maisha yao wanayoishi katika nchi uliyowapa mababu zetu.

So that they may give you worship all the days of their life in the land which you gave to our fathers.

41 Na nyongeza yake, kuhusiana na mgeni ambaye si mtu wako wa Israeli: atakapokuja kutokea nchi ya mbali kwa sababu ya jina lako -

And as for the man from a strange land, who is not of your people Israel; when he comes from a far country because of the glory of your name:

42 kwa sababu watasikia jina lako lilivyo kuu, mkono wako wenye nguvu, na mkono wako ulioinuliwa - atakapokuja na kuomba mahali hapa pa hekalu,

(For they will have news of your great name and your strong hand and your out-stretched arm; ) when he comes to make his prayer, turning to this house:

43 tafadhali usikie kutokea katika mbingu, mahali unapoishi, na umfanyie huyo mgeni akuombacho. Fanya hivi ili makundi ya wtu wote duniani wakujue jina lako na kukuhofia, kama wanavyofanya watu Israeli. Fanya hivyo ili wajue kwamba nyumba hii niliyoijenga inaitwa kwa jina lako.

Give ear in heaven your living-place, and give him his desire, whatever it may be; so that all the peoples of the earth may have knowledge of your name, worshipping you as do your people Israel, and that they may see that this house which I have put up is truly named by your name.

44 Na kama watu wko wataenda vitani dhidi ya adui, kwa njia yeyote unayoweza kuwatuma, na kama watakuomba wewe, BWANA, kuelekea mji huu uliuchagua, na kuekea nyumba ambayo nimeijenga kwa jina lako.

If your people go out to war against their attackers, by whatever way you may send them, if they make their prayer to the Lord, turning their faces to this town of yours and to this house which I have made for your name:

45 Basi sikia tokea mbinguni maombi yao, dua zao, na uwasaidie wanachohitaji.

Give ear in heaven to their prayer and their cry for grace, and see right done to them.

46 Na kama watafanya dhambi dhidi yako, kwa kuwa hakuna hata mtu mmoja asiyefanya dhambi, na kama una hasira dhidi yao na kuwapeleka kwa maadui, ili kwamba maadui wawachukue mateka katika nchi yao, mbali au karibu.

If they do wrong against you, (for no man is without sin, ) and you are angry with them and give them up into the power of those who are fighting against them, so that they take them away as prisoners into a strange land, far off or near;

47 Na kama watatambua kuwa wako katika nchi ya utumwa, na kama watatubu na kuomba neema kwako kutokea katika nchi ya watekaji. Na kama watasema, 'tumetenda kwa ukaidi na tumefanya dhambi. Tumetenda kwa uovu.'

And if they take thought, in the land where they are prisoners, and are turned again to you, crying out in prayer to you in that land, and saying, We are sinners, we have done wrong, we have done evil;

48 Na kama watarudi kwako kwa mioyo yao yote na kwa roho zao zote katika chi ya maadui ambao wanawakamata, na kama watakuomba wewe kuelekea nchi yao, ambayo uliwapa mababu zao, na kuelekea katika mji uliouchagua, nakuelekea kaika nyumba ambayo nimeijenga kwa jina lako.

And with all their heart and soul are turned again to you, in the land of those who took them prisoners, and make their prayer to you, turning their eyes to this land which you gave to their fathers, and to the town which you took for yourself, and the house which I made for your name:

49 Basi usikie maombi yao, na dua zao tokea mbinguni, mahali unapoishi, na ukaitetee haki yao.

Then give ear to their prayer and to their cry in heaven your living-place, and see right done to them;

50 Wasamehe watu wako waliotenda dhambi dhidi yako, na dhambi zao zote ambazo kwazo wamekukosea wewe dhidi ya amri zako. Uwahurumie mbele ya maadui zao ambao waliwachukua mateka, ili kwamba maadui zao pia wawahurumie watu wako.

Answering with forgiveness the people who have done wrong against you, and overlooking the evil which they have done against you; let those who made them prisoners be moved with pity for them, and have pity on them;

51 Hawa ni watu wako uliowachagau, ambao uliwaokoa toka nchi ya Misri kama kwamba walikuwa katikati ya tanuru amabamo vyuma huyeyushwa.

For they are your people and your heritage, which you took out of Egypt, out of the iron fireplace;

52 Naomba kwamba macho yako yatazame dua za mtumishi wako na kwa dua za watu wako Issraeli, ili uwasike kila wanapokulilia.

Let your eyes be open to your servant's prayer for grace and to the prayer of your people Israel, hearing them when their cry comes to you.

53 Kwa kuwa uliwatenga toka kwa watu wengine wa duniani ili wawe wako nakupokea ahadi zako, kama vile ulivyomwambia Musa mtumishi wako, wakati ulipowatoa babazetu toka Misri, BWANA.”

For you made them separate from all the peoples of the earth, to be your heritage, as you said by Moses your servant, when you took our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.

54 Kwa hiyo ilitokea wakati Sulemaeni alipomaliza kuomba maombi haya na dua zake kwa BWANA, aliamka toka madhabahu ya BWANA, pale alipokuwa amepiga magoti na mikono yake ikiwa imenyoshwa kuelekea mbinguni.

Then Solomon, after making all these prayers and requests for grace to the Lord, got up from his knees before the altar of the Lord, where his hands had been stretched out in prayer to heaven;

55 Alisimama na kuubariki mkutano wote wa Israeli kwa sauti kuu, alisema,

And, getting on his feet, he gave a blessing to all the men of Israel, saying with a loud voice,

56 “Asifiwe BWANA, aliywapatia pumziko watu hawa Israeli, akitunza ahadi zake zote. Hakuna hata moja ambayo haijatekelezwa katika ahadi njema za BWANA ambazo aliahidi akiwa na Musa mtumishi wake.

Praise be to the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, as he gave them his word to do; every word of all his oath, which he gave by the hand of Moses his servant, has come true.

57 BWANA, mungu wetu awe pamoja nasi, kama alivyokuwa pamoja na mababu zetu. Asituache wala kututelekeza,

Now may the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; let him never go away from us or give us up;

58 kwamba aunganishe mioyo yetu na yeye, ili tuishi katika njia zake na kuzishika amri zake na taratibu zake na maagizo yake, ambayo aliwaagiza baba zetu.

Turning our hearts to himself, guiding us to go in all his ways, to keep his orders and his laws and his decisions, which he gave to our fathers.

59 Na maeneo haya ambayo nimesema, ambayo nimesihi mbele ya BWANA, yawe karibu n a BWANA, Mungu wetu usiku na mchana, ili kwamba awasadie katika haki za mtumishi wake na haki za watu wake Israeli, kama watakavyoomba kila siku;

And may these my words, the words of my prayer to the Lord, be before the Lord our God day and night, so that he may see right done to his servant and to his people Israel, day by day as we have need.

60 kwamba watu wote duniani wajue kwamba BWANA, ndiye Mungu, na hakuna Mungu mwingine!

So that all the peoples of the earth may see that the Lord is God, and there is no other.

61 Kwa hiyo ifanyeni mioyo yenu iwe ya haki mbele ya BWANA. Mungu wetu, ili tutembee katika maagizo na kuzishika amri zake, kama ilivyo leo.

Then let your hearts be without sin before the Lord our God, walking in his laws and keeping his orders as at this day.

62 Kwa hiyo mfalme na watu wote pamoja naye wakatoa sadaka kwa BWANA.

Now the king, and all Israel with him, were making offerings before the Lord.

63 Sulemani akatoa sadaka ya amani, ambayo aliifanya kwa BWANA: Nayo ilikuwa makisai elfu ishirini na mbili, na kondoo 120, 000. Kwa hiyo mfalme na watu wa Israeli wakaiweka wakfu nyumba ya BWANA.

And Solomon gave to the Lord for peace-offerings, twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel kept the feast of the opening of the Lord's house.

64 Siku hiyo mfalme aliweka wakfu behewa ya katikati mbele ya hekalu la BWANA, kwa kuwa pale ndipo alipotoa sadaka za kuteketezwa, sadaka za unga, na sadaka za mafuta ya amani, kwa sababu ile madhabahu ya shaba iliyokuwa mbele ya BWANA ilikuwa ndogo sana kwa sadaka za kuteketezwa, sadaka za unga, na mafuta ya sadaka za amani.

The same day the king made holy the middle of the open square in front of the house of the Lord, offering there the burned offering and the meal offering and the fat of the peace-offerings; for there was not room on the brass altar of the Lord for the burned offerings and the meal offerings and the fat of the peace-offerings.

65 Kwa hiyo Sulemani akafanya sherehe wakati huo, Nayo Israeli yote pamoja naye, mkutano mkubwa, kutoka Lebo Hamathi hadi kijito cha Misri, wakaja mbele ya BWANA, Mungu wetu kwa muda wa siku saba na pia kwa siku saba zingine, ambayo jumla yake ni siku kumi na nne.

So Solomon and all Israel with him, a very great meeting, (for the people had come together from the way into Hamath to the river of Egypt, ) kept the feast at that time before the Lord our God, for two weeks, even fourteen days.

66 Na ilipofika siku ya nane aliwatawanya watu, nao wakambariki mfalme kisha wakaenda nyumbani kwao kwa furaha na mioyo ya shangwe kwa wema wote ambao BWANA alimwonyesha Daudi, mtumishi wake, na kwa watu wake, Israeli.

And on the eighth day he sent the people away, and, blessing the king, they went to their tents full of joy and glad in their hearts, because of all the good which the Lord had done to David his servant and to Israel his people.