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.
Otjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe matji etwa mondjuwo ya Muhona
(2Eku 5:2—6:2)1 Ombara Salomo wa woronganisira ovanane vOvaisrael na imbi oviuru vyomihoko novyomaṱunḓu wOvaisrael mOjerusalem kutja ve kaete Otjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe wa Muhona kOsion, Otjihuro tja David, nu ve tji ete kondjuwo ya Muhona. 2 Ovarumendu avehe vOvaisrael va woronganena pOmukandi wOviranda vyOmaso momueze Etanim, imbwi outjahambombari. 3 Novanane avehe tji va worongana, ovapristeri arire tji va toora Otjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe 4 nave tji twara kondjuwo ya Muhona. Ovapristeri nOvalevi wina va twara Ondanda yOmahakaeneno noviungurise avihe oviyapuke mbya ri mu yo kondjuwo ya Muhona. 5 Nombara Salomo nOvaisrael avehe va woronganena momurungu wOtjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe, nave punguha ozonyanda nozongombe ozengi tjinene nḓe hi notjivaro. 6 Tjazumba ovapristeri otji va toora Otjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe nave ketjitwa metuwo romokwara rondjuwo, okutja mOtjouyapukeyapuke, kehi yovivava vyovakerubi. 7 Novivava vyawo vya nyaturukira kombanda yOtjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe nave tji kutjire pamwe noviti vyatjo ovitjindiro. 8 Noviti ovitjindiro, mbi ri mbo nga ku ndinondi, vya ri ovire nai nga ovikoro vyavyo tjaavi munikire metuwo nda ri komurungu wOtjouyapukeyapuke; nungwari kaavi sora okumunikira pendje. 9 Kamwa ri otjiṋa tjarwe mOtjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe posi yovitjangero imbi vivari vyomawe, Moses mbya twire mu tjo kondundu Sinai, Muhona ka tjitire omerikutiropamwe nOvaisrael, indu tji va zire kOengipte.
10 Novapristeri tji va pita mondjuwo ya Muhona, kamanga otjikamba otji tje urisa ondjuwo ya Muhona. 11 Nowo kave yarukire mu yo okutjita oviungura vyawo, ongeṋangeṋeno ya Muhona tjinga aye urisa indji ondjuwo ya Muhona 12 Nu Salomo otja kumba na tja:
“Ove, Muhona, wa twa eyuva meyuru,
nu vari ove we ritoororera okukara movikamba na monḓorera.
13 Nambano nai mbe ku tungire ondjuwo,
mu mo tura nga aruhe.”
Salomo ma hungire notjiwaṋa
(2Eku 6:3-11)14 Notjiwaṋa atjihe ngunda atja kurama mbo, ombara Salomo wa tanauka na tara ku tjo, ne tji ningirire ondaya ya Ndjambi. 15 Neye wa tja nai: “Nga tangwe Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel! Eye wa yenenisa omakwizikiro nga tjita ku tate David, indu tja tja: 16 ‘Okuza keyuva, ndi mba pitisa otjiwaṋa tjandje mOengipte, ami hi toororere otjihuro ngamwa mehi arihe ra Israel, mu mwa sokutungwa ondjuwo ondjapuke mu me kumbirwa. Nungwari mba toorora ove, David, okurira ombara wotjiwaṋa tjandje Israel.’ ”
17 Salomo wa hungira komurungu na tja: “Tate David wa vanga okutungira Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, ondjuwo ondjapuke, 18 nungwari Muhona wa tja nai ku tate David: ‘Ami mbi nohange na ove kutja wa vanga okundjitungira ondjuwo ondjapuke. 19 Nungwari kaove ngu mo i tungu, David; ma rire omuzandu woye ongu me ndji tungire ondjuwo ondjapuke.’
20 “Nambano Muhona wa yenenisa omakwizikiro we nga tjita. Ami mba pingena tate David okurira ombara ya Israel, nu mba tungire Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, ondjuwo. 21 Ami wina mba ṱuna oruveze mondjuwo rwOtjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe mu mu novitjangero imbi vivari vyomawe vyomerikutiropamwe, Muhona nga tjita puna ootate mukururume, indu tje ve pitisire mehi ra Engipte.”
Ongumbiro ya Salomo
(2Eku 6:12-42)22 Notjiwaṋa atjihe ngunda atji ri mbo, Salomo wa kakurama komurungu wotjipunguhiro tja Muhona. Eye wa yera omaoko we keyuru, 23 na kumbu a tja: “Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, kape na omukuru ngu ri otja ove kombanda meyuru poo kehi kombanda yehi! Oove omuṱakame komerikutiropamwe woye nu u raisa orusuvero rwoye orukarerere kotjiwaṋa tjoye tji tji nonḓuviro kove nomutima watjo auhe. 24 Ove wa ṱakamisa omakwizikiro ngu wa tjita ku tate David, omukarere woye; nu ndinondi wa yenenisa imbi mbi wa kwizika. 25 Nambano Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, ami me kumbu kutja ove u ṱakamise omakwizikiro nga omakwao ngu wa tjita ku tate David, indu tji we mu raera nai: ‘Ami aruhe me ku pe ondekurona, ndji mai ku pingene okurira ombara ya Israel, indu ozondekurona zoye tji maze kara nonḓuviro ku ami tjimuna ove tji wa kara na yo ku ami.’ 26 Nu komuhingo mbwi otji me kumbu, Ndjambi wa Israel, kutja ove u yenenise omakwizikiro ngu wa tjita ku tate David, omukarere woye.
27 “Ndjambi, tjiri, hapo mape ya ove o tura kombanda yehi? Nandarire eyuru arihe kari yenene kove, nu ondjuwo indji ndji mba tunga mai yenene vi kove? 28 Arikana, ndji zuvira ongumbiro yandje nomeriyarikaṋeno wandje, Muhona, Ndjambi wandje; ndji zuvira ondjuriro nongumbiro yandje, ndji me kumbu kove ndinondi. 29 Tjevera ondjuwo ndji omutenya nouṱuku; poṋa mba ove pu wa toorora okukumbirwa po. Ndji zuvira, tji me kumbire mondjuwo ndji. 30 Zuvira ozongumbiro zandje nozotjiwaṋa tjoye, aruhe matji kumbire moṋa mwi. Moyoye meyuru tu zuvira nu tu isira.
31 “Omundu tji ma kumininwa kutja wa tjiti ouvi komukwao, na etwa kotjipunguhiro tjoye mondjuwo ndji a yane kutja ke nondjo, 32 Muhona, zuva meyuru, nu pangura ovakarere voye. Vera ingwi omunandjo pu pa yenene, nu kutura ingwi omuhinandjo.
33 “Otjiwaṋa tjoye tji tja haverwa i ovanavita na tjo mena rokutja tja tura ondjo komurungu woye, nu tjazumba otjo atji ritanaurire kove, natji ku yozike, natji ningire ondjesiro mondjuwo ndji, 34 tji zuvira meyuru. Isira otjiwaṋa tjoye Israel omauvi watjo, nu tji yarura kehi, ndi wa yandja kooihe mukururume.
35 “Otjiwaṋa tjoye tji tja tura ondjo komurungu woye, nove tji we tji vere nokuhinokutjita ombura, nu tjazumba otjo atji ritanaura, atji tara kondjuwo ndji natji kumbu nokukutanga, 36 tji zuvira meyuru. Isira omauvi wombara nowotjiwaṋa tja Israel. Ve honga ondjira osemba mu mave ryanga, nu tjazumba u rokise ombura mehi roye, ndi wa yandja kotjiwaṋa tjoye ri rire ouini watjo oukarerere.
37 “Tji mu nourumbu mehi poo omutjise omuzeu poo ovikunwa tji vya nyonwa i ombepo ombyu poo i omutjise wovikokotwa poo i ehapu rozombahu, poo otjiwaṋa tjoye tji tja rwisiwa i ovanavita na tjo poo tji mu nomutjise poo ouvere mokati katjo, 38 tji zuvira ozongumbiro zatjo. Tji pe novandu motjiwaṋa tjoye Israel mbe noruhoze momitima nave roporora omaoko wawo mongumbiro kondjuwo ndji, 39 ve zuvira ongumbiro yawo. Ve zuvira moyoye meyuru, nu ve isira, nu tjita ku auhe otja pa pu pokutjitwa, ove tjinga au tjiwa omeripura wovandu avehe. 40 Ovandu voye otji mave ku tira oruveze aruhe ngunda ava tura mehi, ndi wa yandja kootate mukururume.
41 “Owozonganda ngu tura kehi rokokure tja zuu ena roye enene, 42 na imbi oviṋa ovinene, mbi wa tjita kotjiwaṋa tjoye, nu tje ya okurikotamena kove nokukumbira pondjuwo ndji, 43 mu zuvira ongumbiro ye. Mu zuvira meyuru mu u tura, nu u yenenise imbi eye mbi me ku ningire okutjita, ovandu avehe kombanda yehi kutja ve ku tjiwe nokukutira tjimuna otjiwaṋa tjoye omuini tji tji tjita. Nowo otji mave tjiwa kutja ondjuwo ndji ndji mba tunga, ove omu u kumbirwa mo.
44 “Ove tji wa rakiza kotjiwaṋa tjoye okukarwa novanavita na tjo, notjo atji kumbu kove ama tji tara kotjihuro hi tji wa toorora, na kondjuwo ndji ndji mbe ku tungira, 45 tji zuvira ozongumbiro zatjo. Tji zuvira meyuru, nu u tji pe outoṋi.
46 “Otjiwaṋa tjoye tji tja tura ondjo komurungu woye, tjinga ape hi na omundu ngu ha tura ondjo, nu momazenge woye tji wa tjiti kutja ovanavita na tjo ve tji havere, nokutjitwara kehi rarwe otja ovahuurwa, nandarire kutja okokure, 47 tji zuvira ozongumbiro zatjo. Tji tje ritanaurire mehi ndo natji kumbu kove, ama tji rihepura kutja otjinauvi nu tja tjita ouvi, tji zuvira ozongumbiro zatjo, Muhona. 48 Nu tji tje ritanaurire tjiri kove nomitima vyawo avihe mehi ndo, natji kumbu kove, ngunda ama tji tara kehi ndi ndi wa yandja kooihe mukururume, na kotjihuro ihi tji wa toorora, na kondjuwo ndji ndji mbe ku tungira, 49 tji zuvira ozongumbiro zatjo. Tji zuvira moyoye meyuru, nu u tji tjariparere. 50 Isira otjiwaṋa tjoye omauvi nozongatukiro zatjo komurungu woye, nu tjita kutja ovanavita na tjo ve tji ṱire ondjenda. 51 Otjo otjiwaṋa tjoye omuini tji wa pitisa mOengipte motjiwiyu.
52 “Naruhe tara nondjingonekero kotjiwaṋa tjoye Israel na kombara yatjo, nu tji zuvira ongumbiro yatjo aruhe tji matji ku ombatero kove. 53 Ove we tji toorora mokati koviwaṋa avihe mbi ri kombanda yehi okurira otjiwaṋa tjoye omuini otja punga awa rakizire komukarere woye Moses, indu ove tji wa pitisire ootate mukururume mOengipte, Muhona Ndjambi.”
Salomo ma sere Ovaisrael ondaya rukwao
54 Salomo tja za nokukumba ku Muhona, wa sekama momurungu wotjipunguhiro poṋa pa worera ozongoro a yere omaoko we keyuru. 55 Eye wa ningirira Ovaisrael avehe mba wongara mbo, ondaya ya Ndjambi neraka enene na tja: 56 “Muhona nga tangwe, ngwa yandja ohange kotjiwaṋa tje otja pa kwizika. Eye wa yenenisa omakwizikiro we omawa aehe, nga tjitire komukarere we Moses. 57 Muhona, Ndjambi wetu, nga kare puna eṱe otja tjinga a ri puna ootate mukururume; eye e he tu esa, nu e he tu imbirahi. 58 Eye nge tu tjite kutja tu kare nonḓuviro ku ye, aruhe tu hupe otja eye tji ma vanga, nu tu ṱakamise omatwako nomazikamisiro nomaraerero we, nga yandja kootate mukururume. 59 Muhona, Ndjambi wetu, nga zemburuke aruhe ongumbiro ndji nomeriyarikaṋeno nga, ngu mba tjiti ku ye. Eye aruhe nga kare notjari kOvaisrael na kombara yawo otja kouhepe wawo meyuva arihe. 60 Komuhingo mbwi oviwaṋa avihe, mbi ri kombanda yehi, otji mavi tjiwa kutja Muhona eye onguri Ndjambi erike, nu kape na warwe. 61 Ove, tjiwaṋa tje, aruhe kara nouṱakame ku Muhona, Ndjambi wetu, mokuṱakamisa omatwako nomazikamisiro we otja tji wa tjiti ndinondi.”
Omayapuriro wondjuwo ya Muhona
(2Eku 7:4-10)62 Nombara Salomo nOvaisrael avehe va punguhira Muhona ozombunguhiro. 63 Eye wa punguha ozongombe 22,000 nozonyanda 120,000 ze rire ozombunguhiro zohange. Komuhingo mbwi ombara nOvaisrael avehe otji va yapurira Muhona ondjuwo ndji. 64 Meyuva tjingero ndo ombara wina otji ya yapura orupanda rwomokati, ndwa ri momurungu wondjuwo ya Muhona, oyo puyai punguhire ozombunguhiro ozoningiririsiwa nozovikurya, nozonḓura zovinamuinyo ze rire ozombunguhiro zohange, kotjipunguhiro. Ihi otjipunguhiro tjongoporo tji tja ri mondjuwo tja ri otjiṱiṱi tjinene kozombunguhiro azehe nḓa.
65 Tjazumba ombara Salomo nOvaisrael avehe, okuza pomakapitiro wondundu Hamat kuṱa keyuva kokunene nga komukuro wa Engipte kuṱa keyuva kokumuho, otji va tjita Omukandi wOviranda vyOmaso komurungu wa Muhona, Ndjambi wetu, oure womayuva hambombari. 66 Nu meyuva oritjahambondatu Salomo otja hinda otjiwaṋa okuyaruka kozonganda. Avehe va tanga ombara nave yaruka kozoyawo nenyando nondjoroka mena roviṋa avihe mbi Muhona mbya yandja komukarere we David na kotjiwaṋa tje Israel.
