Eyokuqala YaMakhosi

8 Ngaleso sikhathi uSolomoni waqoqela ndawonye + amadoda amadala akwa-Israyeli—zonke izinhloko zezizwe, izikhulu zemindeni yoyise yezizwe zakwa-Israyeli. + Beza eNkosini uSolomoni eJerusalema ukuze kukhushulwe umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova ususwa eDolobheni LikaDavide, + okungukuthi, eZiyoni. + 2 Wonke amadoda akwa-Israyeli ahlangana phambi kweNkosi uSolomoni emkhosini* ngenyanga ka-Ethanimi,* okungukuthi, inyanga yesikhombisa. + 3 Ngakho wonke amadoda amadala akwa-Israyeli eza, abapristi bawuthwala uMphongolo. + 4 Bakhuphula uMphongolo kaJehova, itende lokuhlangana + nazo zonke izinto ezingcwele ezazisetendeni. Abapristi namaLevi bakukhuphula. 5 INkosi uSolomoni nayo yonke inhlangano ka-Israyeli eyayibizelwe ukuzohlangana nayo babephambi koMphongolo. Kwenziwa imihlatshelo yezimvu nezinkomo + eziningi ezingenakubalwa.

6 Ngemva kwalokho abapristi bangenisa umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yawo, + bawubeka ekamelweni elingaphakathi lendlu, eNgcwelengcwele, ngaphansi kwamaphiko amakherubi. +

7 Ngakho amaphiko amakherubi ayelulekele endaweni yoMphongolo, amakherubi awengamela uMphongolo nezinduku zawo. + 8 Izinduku zawo + zazizinde kangangokuba izihloko zazo zazibonakala eNgcwele phambi kwekamelo elingaphakathi, kodwa zazingabonakali ngaphandle. Ziselapho kuze kube namuhla. 9 Kwakungekho lutho eMphongolweni ngaphandle kwamatshe amabili ayizicaba + uMose ayewafake kuwo + ngesikhathi eseHorebe, lapho uJehova enza isivumelwano + nama-Israyeli ngesikhathi ephuma ezweni laseGibhithe. +

10 Lapho abapristi bephuma endaweni engcwele, ifu + lagcwala indlu kaJehova. + 11 Abapristi abakwazanga ukuma bakhonze ngenxa yaleli fu, ngoba inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwala indlu kaJehova. + 12 Ngaleso sikhathi uSolomoni wathi: “UJehova wayethe uzohlala efwini elimnyama. + 13 Ngiphumelele ukukwakhela indlu ephakeme, indawo eyohlale ikhona ukuba uhlale kuyo kuze kube phakade.” +

14 Inkosi yaphenduka yabusisa lonke ibandla lika-Israyeli, ngesikhathi lonke ibandla lika-Israyeli limile. + 15 Yathi: “Makadunyiswe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, lowo ngomlomo wakhe owathembisa uDavide ubaba, futhi okugcwalisile ngesandla sakhe, ethi, 16 ‘Kusukela ngosuku engakhipha ngalo abantu bami u-Israyeli eGibhithe, kuzo zonke izizwe zakwa-Israyeli angizange ngikhethe dolobha okuzokwakhelwa kulo igama lami indlu ukuze lihlale khona, + kodwa ngikhethe uDavide ukuba engamele abantu bami u-Israyeli.’ 17 Kodwa kwakuyisifiso senhliziyo kaDavide ubaba ukwakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. + 18 Kodwa uJehova wathi kuDavide ubaba, ‘Kwakuyisifiso senhliziyo yakho ukwakhela igama lami indlu futhi wenza kahle ngokufisa lokhu enhliziyweni yakho. 19 Nokho ngeke yakhiwe nguwe indlu, kodwa indodana yakho ozozalelwa yona* yiyo ezokwakhela igama lami indlu.’ + 20 UJehova usigcwalisile isithembiso asenza, ngoba ngibe yinkosi esikhundleni sikaDavide ubaba ngahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sika-Israyeli, njengoba nje uJehova athembisa. Ngakhele negama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu, + 21 ngalungisa kuyo indawo yoMphongolo okugcinwe kuwo isivumelwano + uJehova asenza nokhokho bethu lapho ebakhipha ezweni laseGibhithe.”

22 Ngemva kwalokho uSolomoni wama phambi kwe-altare likaJehova phambi kwalo lonke ibandla lika-Israyeli, welulela izandla zakhe emazulwini, + 23 wathi: “O Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akekho uNkulunkulu onjengawe + emazulwini phezulu noma emhlabeni phansi, ugcina isivumelwano, ubonisa nothando oluqotho + ezincekwini zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo. + 24 Usigcinile isithembiso owasenza encekwini yakho uDavide ubaba. Wenza isithembiso ngomlomo wakho, namuhla usigcwalisile ngesandla sakho. + 25 Manje, Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, gcina isithembiso owasenza encekwini yakho uDavide ubaba lapho uthi: ‘Akusoze kwenzeka ukuba kungabi namuntu wozalo lwakho oyohlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sika-Israyeli, uma nje amadodana akho eyonaka indlela ahamba ngayo phambi kwami, ngokuhamba njengoba nje wena uhambile phambi kwami.’ + 26 Manje, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngiyacela, masifezeke isithembiso osenze encekwini yakho uDavide ubaba.

27 “Kodwa ingabe ngempela uNkulunkulu uyohlala emhlabeni? + Bheka! Amazulu, yebo, izulu lamazulu, awakwazi ukukuthwala; + kangakanani-ke le ndlu engiyakhile! + 28 Manje lalela umthandazo wenceku yakho nesicelo sayo somusa, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, lalela ukukhalela kwayo usizo nomthandazo inceku yakho ewuthandaza phambi kwakho namuhla. 29 Kwangathi amehlo akho angayiqapha ubusuku nemini le ndlu, le ndawo owathi ngayo, ‘Igama lami liyoba lapho,’ + ukuze ulalele umthandazo inceku yakho ewuthandaza ibheke kule ndawo. + 30 Yizwa isicelo sokuboniswa umusa esivela encekwini yakho nesicelo sabantu bakho u-Israyeli abasithandazela bebheke kule ndawo, kwangathi ungezwa usendaweni yakho yokuhlala, emazulwini; + yebo, kwangathi ungezwa uthethelele. +

31 “Lapho umuntu ona omunye umuntu bese efungiswa,* bese eba ngaphansi kwaleso sifungo, kuthi ngesikhathi esengaphansi kwaleso sifungo* eze phambi kwe-altare lakho kule ndlu, + 32 kwangathi ungezwa usemazulwini, uthathe isinyathelo wahlulele izinceku zakho ngokuba uthi omubi unecala* nangokumjezisa ngokubi akwenzile, nangokuba uthi olungile umsulwa* bese umvuza ngokulunga kwakhe. +

33 “Lapho abantu bakho u-Israyeli benqotshwa isitha ngenxa yokuthi bebelokhu bona kuwe, + bese bebuyela kuwe badumise igama lakho + bathandaze bacele ukuba ubabonise umusa kule ndlu, + 34 kwangathi ungezwa usemazulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho u-Israyeli ubabuyisele ezweni owalinika okhokho babo. +

35 “Lapho amazulu evalekile nemvula ingani + ngenxa yokuthi bebelokhu bona kuwe, + bese bethandaza bebheke kule ndawo badumise igama lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo, ngoba ubathobisile, *+ 36 kwangathi ungezwa usemazulwini, uthethelele isono sezinceku zakho, sabantu bakho u-Israyeli, ngoba uyobafundisa + indlela enhle okufanele bahambe ngayo; ulethe imvula ezweni lakho + olinike abantu bakho njengefa.

37 “Uma kuba khona indlala ezweni + noma isifo esiwumshayabhuqe, ukushisa okuhangulayo, isikhunta, + izinkumbi noma isikhonyane;* noma uma isitha sabo sibavimbezela kunoma yiliphi idolobha ezweni* noma uma kuba khona noma yiluphi uhlobo lwenhlupho noma lwesifo, + 38 kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yimuphi umthandazo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yisiphi isicelo somusa + esingase senziwe yinoma yimuphi umuntu noma yibo bonke abantu bakho u-Israyeli (ngoba yilowo nalowo uyakwazi okukhathaza inhliziyo yakhe) + lapho belulela izandla zabo bebheke kule ndlu, 39 kwangathi ungezwa usemazulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, + uthethelele + uthathe isinyathelo; uvuze ngamunye ngokuvumelana nazo zonke izindlela zakhe, + ngoba uyayazi inhliziyo yakhe (nguwe wedwa oyazi kahle inhliziyo yabo bonke abantu), + 40 ukuze bakwesabe zonke izinsuku abaziphila ezweni owalinika okhokho bethu.

41 “Ngokuqondene nowesinye isizwe ongeyona ingxenye yabantu bakho u-Israyeli, ovela ezweni elikude ngenxa yegama* lakho + 42 (ngoba bayozwa ngegama lakho elikhulu + nangesandla sakho esinamandla nangengalo yakho eyeluliwe), ofike athandaze ebheke kule ndlu, 43 kwangathi ungamlalela usemazulwini, endaweni yakho yokuhlala, + ukwenze konke lokho lowo muntu wesinye isizwe akucela kuwe, ukuze zonke izizwe zomhlaba zilazi igama lakho futhi zikwesabe, + njengoba nje isizwe sakho u-Israyeli sikwesaba, zazi ukuthi igama lakho libizwe kule ndlu engiyakhile.

44 “Uma abantu bakho beya empini beyolwa nesitha sabo ngendlela obathuma ngayo, + bese bethandaza + kuwe Jehova bebheke kuleli dolobha olikhethile + nakule ndlu engiyakhele igama lakho, + 45 yizwa usemazulwini umthandazo wabo nesicelo sabo somusa, ubakhiphele isahlulelo.

46 “Uma bona kuwe (ngoba akekho umuntu ongoni), + bese ubathukuthelela ubanikele esitheni, abathumbi babo babathumbe babayise ezweni lesitha elikude noma eliseduze; + 47 bese besanguluka besezweni abathunjelwe kulo, + babuyele kuwe + bacele ukuba ubabonise umusa ezweni labathumbi babo, + bathi, ‘Sonile senza okungalungile; senze ngokukhohlakala,’ + 48 babuyele kuwe ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo + nangawo wonke umphefumulo* wabo ezweni lezitha zabo ezabathumba, bese bethandaza kuwe bebheke ezweni labo owalinika okhokho babo, nasedolobheni olikhethile nasendlini engiyakhele igama lakho, + 49 yizwa usemazulwini, endaweni yakho yokuhlala, + umthandazo wabo nesicelo sabo sokuba ubabonise umusa, ubakhiphele isahlulelo, 50 uthethelele abantu bakho abonile kuwe, uthethelele zonke iziphambeko zabo abone ngazo kuwe. Wenze ukuba abathumbi babo babahawukele + 51 (ngoba bangabantu bakho nefa lakho, + owabakhipha eGibhithe, + ngaphakathi kwesithando somlilo sokuncibilikisa insimbi). + 52 Kwangathi izindlebe zakho zingalalela isicelo senceku yakho sokuboniswa umusa + nesicelo sesizwe sakho u-Israyeli sokuboniswa umusa, ngokulalela noma nini lapho bekubiza. *+ 53 Ngoba wabahlukanisa kuzo zonke izizwe zomhlaba baba yifa lakho, + njengoba wakhuluma ngoMose inceku yakho lapho ukhipha okhokho bethu eGibhithe, Nkosi EnguMbusi Jehova.”

54 Kwathi nje lapho uSolomoni eseqedile ukuthandaza kuJehova wonke lo mthandazo nesicelo somusa, wasukuma phambi kwe-altare likaJehova, lapho ayeguqe khona izandla zakhe zelulelwe emazulwini. + 55 Wama wabusisa lonke ibandla lika-Israyeli ngezwi elikhulu, wathi: 56 “Makadunyiswe uJehova, onikeze isizwe sakhe u-Israyeli indawo yokuphumula njengoba nje athembisa. + Akuzange kuphuthe ngisho nezwi elilodwa kuso sonke isithembiso sakhe esihle asithembisa ngoMose inceku yakhe. + 57 Kwangathi uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu angaba nathi njengoba nje ayenokhokho bethu. + Kwangathi angesishiye noma asifulathele. + 58 Kwangathi angadonsela izinhliziyo zethu kuye, + ukuze sihambe kuzo zonke izindlela zakhe, sigcine imiyalo yakhe, iziqondiso zakhe nezahlulelo zakhe, ayala okhokho bethu ukuba bazigcine. 59 Kwangathi la mazwi ami enginxuse ngawo umusa kaJehova angakhumbuleka kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ubusuku nemini, ukuze akhiphele inceku yakhe isahlulelo nabantu bakhe u-Israyeli ngokwesidingo sosuku nosuku, 60 ukuze zonke izizwe zomhlaba zazi ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu weqiniso. + Akekho omunye! + 61 Ngakho izinhliziyo zenu maziphelele *+ kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ngokuhamba eziqondisweni zakhe nangokugcina imiyalo yakhe njenganamuhla.”

62 Inkosi nawo wonke u-Israyeli banikela umhlatshelo omkhulu phambi kukaJehova. + 63 USolomoni wanikela imihlatshelo ehlanganyelwayo + kuJehova: Wanikela ngezinkomo ezingu-22 000 nangezimvu ezingu-120 000. Ngakho inkosi nawo wonke ama-Israyeli bayivula indlu kaJehova. + 64 Ngalolo suku inkosi kwadingeka ingcwelise indawo emaphakathi negceke elingaphambi kwendlu kaJehova, ngoba kwakumele iyinikelele lapho imihlatshelo eshiswayo, iminikelo yokusanhlamvu namaqatha anonile emihlatshelo ehlanganyelwayo, ngoba i-altare lethusi + eliphambi kukaJehova lalilincane kakhulu ukuba lithwale imihlatshelo eshiswayo, iminikelo yokudla okusanhlamvu namaqatha anonile + emihlatshelo ehlanganyelwayo. 65 Ngaleso sikhathi uSolomoni wagubha umkhosi + phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu izinsuku eziyisikhombisa nezinye izinsuku eziyisikhombisa, izinsuku ezingu-14 sezizonke, ekanye nawo wonke u-Israyeli, ibandla elikhulu kusukela eLebo-hamati* kwehle kuze kufike eMhosheni* WaseGibhithe. + 66 Ngosuku olulandelayo* wabadedela abantu bahamba, bayibusisa inkosi base beya emakhaya, bejabule futhi beneme ezinhliziyweni zabo ngenxa yabo bonke ubuhle + uJehova ayebubonise uDavide inceku yakhe no-Israyeli isizwe sakhe.