Eyokuqala EyamaKhosi

8 Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni wabuthanisa+ abadala bako-Israyeli, bonke abakhokheli bezizwana kanye labakhokheli bezimuli zako-Israyeli.+ Babuya eJerusalema bazobuthana enkosini uSolomoni bezothatha ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova edolobheni likaDavida,+ iZiyoni.+ 2 Wonke amadoda ako-Israyeli abuthana phambi kweNkosi uSolomoni ngesikhathi somkhosi,* ngenyanga ka-Ethanimi,* inyanga yesikhombisa.+ 3 Bonke abadala bako-Israyeli bathi sebefikile, abaphristi bathwala ibhokisi.+ 4 Bathwala ibhokisi likaJehova, letende lokuhlangana,+ lazo zonke izitsha ezingcwele ezazisetendeni. Abaphristi lamaLevi bakuthwala konke lokhu. 5 INkosi uSolomoni labantu bonke bako-Israyeli ababebizwe ukuthi bazohlangana layo babephambi kwebhokisi. Kwenziwa imihlatshelo+ ngezimvu lenkomo ezinengi kakhulu ezazingeke zibalwe.

6 Ngemva kwalokho abaphristi bafaka ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yalo+ endlini engaphakathi, iNgcwelengcwele. Balibeka ngaphansi kwempiko zamakherubhi.+

7 Impiko zamakherubhi zazivulekile ziphezu kwendawo okwakubekwe kuyo ibhokisi. Yikho amakherubhi ayeyembese ibhokisi lezibambo zalo.+ 8 Izibambo+ zazizinde zibonakala eNdaweni Engcwele ephambi kwendlu engaphakathi, kodwa zazingakhanyi nxa umuntu ephandle. Izinto lezi zilokhu zikhonapho kuze kube lamuhla. 9 Kwakungelalutho phakathi kwebhokisi ngaphandle kwamatshe amabili+ oMthetho afakwa nguMosi+ eHorebhi, lapho uJehova esenza isivumelwano+ labantu bako-Israyeli ngesikhathi bephuma eGibhithe.+

10 Abaphristi bathi bephuma endaweni engcwele, indlu kaJehova yembeswa liyezi.+ 11 Abaphristi behluleka ukwenza inkonzo yabo ngenxa yeyezi ngoba indlu kaJehova yayisigcwele inkazimulo kaJehova.+ 12 USolomoni wathi ekubona lokho wathi: “Jehova, wena wathi uzahlala emnyameni owesabekayo.+ 13 Sengikwakhele indlu ephakemeyo, indawo ozahlala kuyo kuze kube nini lanini.”+

14 Ngemva kwalokho iNkosi uSolomoni yatshibilika yabusisa bonke abantu bako-Israyeli. Ngalesosikhathi abantu babemile.+ 15 Yathi: “Kadunyiswe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, lowo okwenzileyo ngesandla sakhe lokho akukhuluma ngomlomo wakhe lapho ethembisa ubaba uDavida esithi, 16 ‘Kusukela ngelanga engakhipha ngalo abantu bami bako-Israyeli eGibhithe, angikaze ngikhethe idolobho kuzo zonke izizwana zako-Israyeli ukuthi ngakhelwe kulo indlu okuzadunyiswa khona ibizo lami,+ kodwa ngikhethe uDavida ukuthi abuse abantu bami bako-Israyeli.’ 17 UDavida ubaba wayefisa kakhulu* ukwakha indlu ezakwenza ibizo likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli lidunyiswe.+ 18 Kodwa uJehova wathi kuDavida ubaba, ‘Ubufisa kakhulu* ukwakha indlu ezakwenza ibizo lami lidunyiswe futhi isifiso sakho besisihle. 19 Kodwa ayisuwe ozakwakha indlu le, indodana yakho ozayizala yiyo ezakwakha indlu ezakwenza ibizo lami lidunyiswe.’+ 20 UJehova usekwenzile lokho ayekuthembisile. Yimi esengingene esikhundleni sikaDavida ubaba futhi sengihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sako-Israyeli, njengoba nje uJehova wathembisa. Sengakhe lendlu ezakwenza ibizo likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli lidunyiswe,+ 21 ngalungisa lendawo ezahlala ibhokisi okugcinwe kulo isivumelwano+ uJehova asenza labokhokho bethu ngesikhathi ebakhipha elizweni leGibhithe.”

22 Ngemva kwalokho uSolomoni wama phambi kwe-alithare likaJehova, abantu bonke bako-Israyeli bephambi kwakhe. Waphakamisela izandla zakhe ezulwini+ 23 wathi: “Awu Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akula omunye uNkulunkulu onjengawe+ phezulu ezulwini laphansi emhlabeni. Wena uyasigcina isivumelwano sakho futhi ulothando oluqotho+ ezincekwini zakho ezilandela imithetho yakho ngenhliziyo yonke.+ 24 Usigcwalisile isithembiso owasenza encekwini yakho uDavida ubaba. Wathembisa ngowakho umlomo futhi lamuhla ukwenzile ngesandla sakho lokho owawukuthembisile.+ 25 Khathesi-ke Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngicela usigcine isithembiso owasenza encekwini yakho uDavida ubaba usithi: ‘Nxa amadodana akho angananzelela indlela aphila ngayo, athembeke futhi ahambe ezindleleni zami njengawe, akusoze kuswelakale umuntu wosendo lwakho ozahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sako-Israyeli.’+ 26 Ngakho-ke Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngicela usigcwalise isithembiso owasenza encekwini yakho uDavida ubaba.

27 “Kambe wena Nkulunkulu ungahlala emhlabeni?+ Phela izulu ngokwalo, lona kanye izulu lamazulu alenelisi ukukuthwala.+ Pho indlu le engikwakhele yona ke? Incane kakhulu!+ 28 Awu Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, khathesi ngicela ulalele umthandazo wenceku yakho, lesicelo sayo sokuthi ube lomusa kuyo. Ngicela uyizwe inceku yakho ekhalela uncedo, uzwe lomthandazo ewuthandaza phambi kwakho lamuhla. 29 Amehlo akho kawahlale ekhangele indlu le ebusuku lemini, akhangele indawo owakhuluma ngayo wathi, ‘Ibizo lami lizakuba kuyo,’+ ukuze ulalele umthandazo inceku yakho ewenza ikhangele endaweni le.+ 30 Kwangathi ungalalela inceku yakho nxa ithandaza icela ukuthi ube lomusa kuyo, ulalele lezicelo abantu bakho bako-Israyeli abazenza bekhangele endaweni le. Sengathi ungezwa usendaweni yakho yokuhlala ezulwini,+ uzwe njalo uthethelele.+

31 “Nxa umuntu angonela umakhelwane wakhe,* umakhelwane wakhe amfungise* ukuze atshengise ukuthi ayisuye okwenzileyo lokho, umuntu lo owonileyo abesesiza phambi kwakho e-alithareni endlini le,+ 32 kwangathi ungezwa usezulwini wahlulele izinceku zakho, umbeke icala owenze okubi, umnike umvuzo walokho akwenzileyo njalo utsho ukuthi olungileyo kalacala ubusumnika umvuzo wokulunga kwakhe.+

33 “Nxa abantu bakho bako-Israyeli banganqotshwa yizitha zabo ngenxa yokuthi bebeqhubeka bekonela,+ besebephenduka badumise ibizo lakho+ njalo bathandaze besendlini le bekuncenga ukuthi ube lomusa kubo,+ 34 kwangathi ungezwa usezulwini uthethelele isono sabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, ubabuyisele elizweni owalinika okhokho babo.+

35 “Nxa amazulu angavaleka kungabi lezulu+ ngoba bebeqhubeka bekonela,+ besebethandaza bekhangele endaweni le badumise ibizo lakho njalo batshiye izono zabo ngenxa yokuthi ubajezisile,+ 36 sengathi ungezwa usezulwini uthethelele isono sezinceku zakho, abantu bako-Israyeli, ubusubafundisa+ okuhle okumele bakwenze njalo wenze ukuthi izulu line elizweni lakho+ owalinika abantu bakho ukuthi libe lilifa labo.

37 “Nxa kungaba lendlala elizweni,+ kumbe isifo, kumbe umoya otshisa izilimo, loba umkhuhlane ohlasela izilimo,+ loba umtshitshi wentethe, kumbe intethe ezitshaya zibhuqe emasimini, kumbe nxa isitha singabavimbezela kwelinye lamadolobho aselizweni, loba kube lolunye uhlupho kumbe umkhuhlane,+ 38 besekusithi loba ngubani kumbe bonke abantu bakho bako-Israyeli bathandaze becela ukuthi ube lomusa kubo+ njalo baphakamise izandla zabo bekhangele endlini le, (ngoba umuntu ngamunye uyalwazi uhlupho olusenhliziyweni yakhe)+ 39 kwangathi ungezwa usezulwini lapho ohlala khona,+ ubathethelele+ njalo ubancede, ubusunika umuntu ngamunye umvuzo ohambelana lezenzo zakhe+ ngoba wena uyazazi inhliziyo zabo. (Nguwe wedwa okwazi kuhle okusenhliziyweni yomuntu ngamunye.)+ 40 Lokhu kuzakwenza bakwesabe zonke insuku behlala elizweni owalinika okhokho bethu.

41 “Lomuntu wesinye isizwe ongayisuye wako-Israyeli osuka elizweni elikhatshana ngoba ezwe ngebizo lakho,+ 42 obuya lapha azothandaza ekhangele endlini le (ngoba bazakuzwa ngebizo lakho elikhulu+ langesandla sakho esilamandla langengalo yakho eyeluliweyo), 43 kwangathi ungamlalela usezulwini lapho ohlala khona,+ wenze konke lowomuntu wesinye isizwe acela ukuthi umenzele khona ukuze bonke abantu abasemhlabeni balazi ibizo lakho njalo bakwesabe+ njengabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, bakwazi ukuthi indlu le engiyakhileyo yenza ukuthi ibizo lakho lidunyiswe.

44 “Nxa abantu bakho ungabathuma+ loba ngaphi ukuthi bayekulwa lezitha zabo, besebethandaza+ kuwe Jehova bekhangele edolobheni olikhethileyo+ lasendlini engiyakhele ukuthi yenze ibizo lakho lidunyiswe,+ 45 sengathi ungawuzwa umthandazo wabo usezulwini, uzwe lesicelo sabo sokuthi ube lomusa kubo, ubusubancedisa.

46 “Nxa bangakonela (njengoba kungelamuntu ongoniyo),+ ubusubathukuthelela ubanikele esitheni sabo sibathumbe sihambe labo elizweni laso, kungelani lokuthi likhatshana kumbe liseduze,+ 47 besebezisola bekhonale elizweni lesitha sabo,+ baphenduke kuwe+ bakuncenge ukuthi ube lomusa kubo beselizweni lesitha sabo+ besithi, ‘Sonile senza okubi, siphambanisile,’+ 48 besebephenduka kuwe ngenhliziyo yonke+ langomphefumulo* wonke bekhonale elizweni lesitha sabo esabathumbayo, njalo bathandaze kuwe bekhangele elizweni labo owalinika okhokho babo futhi bekhangele edolobheni olikhethileyo lasendlini engiyakhele ukuthi yenze ibizo lakho lidunyiswe,+ 49 kwangathi ungawuzwa umthandazo wabo usezulwini lapho ohlala khona,+ uzwe lesicelo sabo sokuthi ube lomusa kubo, ubusubanceda 50 njalo ubathethelele abantu bakho abakoneleyo, ubaxolele zonke iziphambeko zabo abazenzileyo phambi kwakho, ubususenza ukuthi izitha zabo ezabathumbayo zibazwele. Zizabazwela sibili+ 51 (ngoba balilifa lakho njalo bangabantu bakho+ owabakhipha eGibhithe+ phakathi kwesithando somlilo wokuncibilikisa insimbi).+ 52 Kwangathi ungavula amehlo akho ubone lapho inceku yakho icela ukuthi uyenzele umusa+ lalapho abantu bakho bako-Israyeli becela ukuthi ube lomusa kubo, ubalalele loba nini lapho bethandaza kuwe.*+ 53 Phela wabakhetha phakathi kwezizwe zonke wabenza baba lilifa lakho,+ njengoba nje watsho usebenzisa inceku yakho uMosi ngesikhathi ukhipha okhokho bethu eGibhithe, awu Nkosi Enkulu Jehova.”

54 USolomoni wathi eqeda ukuthandaza kuJehova lokucela ukuthi amenzele umusa, wasukuma phambi kwe-alithare likaJehova lapho ayeguqe khona ephakamisele izandla zakhe ezulwini.+ 55 Wama wabusisa bonke abantu bako-Israyeli, wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi: 56 “Kadunyiswe uJehova onike abantu bakhe bako-Israyeli indawo yokuphumula njengoba nje wathembisa.+ Asikho ngitsho lesisodwa isithembiso esihle asikhuluma esebenzisa inceku yakhe uMosi esingazange sigcwaliseke.+ 57 Kwangathi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu angaba lathi njengoba wayelabokhokho bethu,+ angasilahli futhi angasitshiyi.+ 58 Sengathi angenza sibe lesifiso sokuhamba*+ kuzo zonke izindlela zakhe, sigcine imilayo yakhe lemithetho yakhe lezahlulelo zakhe atshela okhokho bethu ukuthi bazigcine. 59 Amazwi la engiwakhulumileyo ngincenga uJehova ukuthi angenzele umusa, kwangathi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu angahlala ewakhumbula ubusuku lemini ukuze nsuku zonke abone ukuthi inceku yakhe kanye labantu bakhe bako-Israyeli bahlulelwa kuhle. 60 Lokhu kuzakwenza zonke izizwe ezisemhlabeni zikwazi ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu weqiniso,+ kakho omunye.+ 61 Ngakho zinikeleni ngokupheleleyo*+ kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, lilandele imithetho yakhe njalo ligcine imilayo yakhe njengoba lisenza lamuhla.”

62 Ngemva kwalokho inkosi labo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli ababelapho benza imihlatshelo eminengi phambi kukaJehova.+ 63 USolomoni wenza imihlatshelo yobudlelwano+ phambi kukaJehova. Wanikela ngenkomo ezingu-22 000 langezimvu ezingu-120 000. Ngakho inkosi labo bonke abantu bako-Israyeli bathakazelela ukuphela kokwakhiwa kwendlu kaJehova.+ 64 Ngalelolanga inkosi yangcwelisa indawo esegumeni eliphambi kwendlu kaJehova ngoba kwasekumele yenzele kuyo imihlatshelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yamabele, inikele langamafutha emihlatshelo yobudlelwano. Phela i-alithare lekhopha+ elaliphambi kukaJehova lalilincane kakhulu ukuthi kwenzelwe kulo imihlatshelo yokutshiswa leminikelo yamabele leyamafutha+ emihlatshelo yobudlelwano. 65 Ngalesosikhathi uSolomoni labantu bonke bako-Israyeli benza umkhosi.+ Kwakulabantu abanengi kakhulu ababebuye bevela eLebho-hamathi* kuze kuyefika esihotsheni* seGibhithe.+ Benza umkhosi phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu okwamalanga ayisikhombisa, baphinda baqhubeka futhi okwamanye amalanga ayisikhombisa, esewonke ayengu-14. 66 Ngelanga elilandelayo* uSolomoni wathi abantu babuyele emizini yabo. Abantu bayibusisa inkosi basebebuyela emizini yabo bethokoza njalo lenhliziyo zabo zichelesile ngenxa yakho konke okuhle+ uJehova ayekwenzele inceku yakhe uDavida labantu bakhe bako-Israyeli.