1 Khona uSolomoni wabutha amalunga akwa-Israyeli nezinhloko zezizwe, izikhulu zawoyise babantwana bakwa-Israyeli enkosini uSolomoni eJerusalema, ukuba bakhuphule umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova emzini kaDavide oyiSiyoni.
2 Onke amadoda akwa-Israyeli abuthana enkosini uSolomoni emkhosini wasenyangeni ka-Ethanimi eyinyanga yesikhombisa.
3 Esefikile onke amalunga akwa-Israyeli, abapristi baphakamisa umphongolo.
4 Bakhuphula umphongolo kaJehova, netende lokuhlangana, nazo zonke izinto ezingcwele ezazisetendeni, kwakhushulwa ngabapristi namaLevi.
5 Inkosi uSolomoni nayo yonke inhlangano yakwa-Israyeli eyayihlangene kuyo babenayo phambi komphongolo, behlaba izimvu nezinkabi ezingenakulotshwa, zingenakubalwa ngobuningi bazo.
6 Abapristi bawungenisa umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaJehova endaweni yawo egumbini lendlu, indawo engcwelengcwele, phansi kwamaphiko amakherubi.*
7 Ngokuba amakherubi ayewelula amaphiko awo phezu kwendawo yomphongolo, amakherubi asibekela umphongolo nezinti zawo ngaphezulu.
8 Izinti zazizinde kangako ukuba izihloko zezinti zibonakale endaweni engcwele phambi kwegumbi; kepha zazingabonakali ngaphandle; zisekhona lapho kuze kube namuhla.
9 Kwakungekho lutho emphongolweni, kuphela izibhebhe ezimbili zamatshe ezabekwa khona nguMose eHorebe, lapho uJehova enza isivumelwano nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli ekuphumeni kwabo eGibithe.
10 Kwathi lapho abapristi sebephumile endaweni engcwele, ifu lagcwalisa indlu kaJehova,
11 abapristi baze bangema ukukhonza ngenxa yefu, ngokuba inkazimulo kaJehova yagcwalisa indlu kaJehova.
12 Khona wakhuluma uSolomoni, wathi: “UJehova ushilo ukuthi uyakuhlala esigayegayeni.
13 Ngikwakhele nokukwakhela indlu yokuhlala, indawo yokuhlala kwakho kuze kube phakade.”
14 Inkosi yayisiphenduka, yalibusisa lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lalimi.
15 Yathi:“Makabongwe uJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owakhuluma ngomlomo wakhe kuDavide ubaba, ukugcwalisile ngesandla sakhe, ethi:
16 ‘Kusukela osukwini engakhipha ngalo abantu bami u-Israyeli eGibithe angikhethanga muzi ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli ukwakha indlu ukuba igama lami libe khona lapho, kepha ngamkhetha uDavide abe phezu kwabantu bami u-Israyeli.’
17 “Kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavide ubaba ukwakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu.
18 Kepha uJehova wathi kuDavide ubaba: ‘Njengokuba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela igama lami indlu, wenza kahle, ngokuba kwakusenhliziyweni yakho lokho;
19 kepha wena awuyikuyakha indlu, kodwa indodana yakho eyakuphuma okhalweni lwakho yiyona eyakwakhela igama lami indlu.’
20 “UJehova uliqinsisile izwi alikhulumayo, ngokuba mina ngivelile esikhundleni sikaDavide ubaba, ngihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli njengokusho kukaJehova, ngakhele igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu.
21 Ngimisile lapho indawo yomphongolo okukuwo isivumelwano sikaJehova asenza nawobaba ekubakhipheni ezweni laseGibithe.”
22 USolomoni wema phambi kwe-altare likaJehova ebusweni balo lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, welulela izandla zakhe ngasezulwini,
23 wathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akakho unkulunkulu onjengawe phezulu ezulwini nasemhlabeni phansi, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nezinceku zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo,
24 ogcine nenceku yakho uDavide ubaba lokho owakusho kuyo; yebo, owakukhuluma ngomlomo wakho ukugcwalisile ngesandla sakho njengokuba kunjalo namuhla.
25 “Ngalokho, Jehova Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, gcina nenceku yakho uDavide ubaba lokho owakusho kuyo ukuthi: ‘Akuyikunqunywa muntu kuwe emehlweni ami ukuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli, uma kuphela abantwana bakho beqaphela indlela yabo ukuba bahambe phambi kwami, njengalokho wena uhambe phambi kwami.’
26 Ngalokho, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, maliqiniseke izwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho uDavide ubaba.
27 “Kepha uNkulunkulu uyakuhlala impela emhlabeni na? Bheka, izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela; pho, kakhulu kangakanani le ndlu encane engiyakhileyo na?
28 Mawubheke umkhuleko wenceku yakho nokunxusa kwayo, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, uzwe ukukhala nokukhuleka inceku yakho ekukhuleka phambi kwakho namuhla
29 ukuba amehlo akho avulekele le ndlu ubusuku nemini, indawo owathi ngayo: ‘Igama lami liyakuba khona lapho,’ uze ulalele umkhuleko inceku yakho eyakuwukhuleka ibhekene nale ndawo.
30 Kulalele ukunxusa kwenceku yakho nokwabantu bakho u-Israyeli abayakukukhuleka bebhekene nale ndawo, ukuzwe usendaweni yakho yokuhlala ezulwini, nalapho usuzwile, uthethelele.
31 “Uma umuntu ona umakhelwane wakhe, athweswe isifungo sokumfungisa, abeseza ukufunga phambi kwe-altare lakho kule ndlu,
32 mawuzwe wena ezulwini, wenze, wahlulele izinceku zakho, kulahlwe onecala, ubeke indlela yakhe phezu kwekhanda lakhe, uthethelele olungileyo, umnike njengokulunga kwakhe.
33 “Lapho abantu bakho u-Israyeli benqotshwa yisitha, ngokuba bonile kuwe, kepha bese bebuya bephindela kuwe, balivume igama lakho, bakhuleke, banxuse kuwe kule ndlu,
34 mawuzwe wena ezulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho u-Israyeli, ubabuyisele ezweni owalinika oyise.
35 “Lapho izulu livaliwe, imvula ingekho, ngokuba bonile kuwe, kepha bese bekhuleka bebhekene nale ndawo, balivume igama lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo, ngokuba uyabajezisa,
36 mawuzwe wena ezulwini, uthethelele isono sezinceku zakho nesabantu bakho u-Israyeli, lapho ubafundisa indlela enhle abayakuhamba ngayo, uthume imvula ezweni lakho obanike abantu bakho libe yifa labo.
37 “Uma kukhona indlala ezweni, noma kukhona isifo, noma kukhona ukuhamuka, nesikhutha, nesikhonyane, nemiswenya, noma isitha sabo sibavimbezela ezweni lemizi yabo, noma kuyiphi inhlupheko nasiphi isifo,
38 bese kuzwakala namuphi umkhuleko nakuphi ukunxusa noma ngumuphi umuntu noma yibo bonke abantu bakho u-Israyeli abayakwazi, kube yilowo nalowo inhlupheko yasenhliziyweni yakhe, elulele izandla zakhe kule ndlu,
39 mawuzwe wena ezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, uthethelele, wenze, unike yilowo nalowo njengezindlela zakhe, wena owaziyo inhliziyo yakhe ngokuba wena kuphela uyazi izinhliziyo zabo bonke abantwana babantu
40 ukuba bakwesabe zonke izinsuku zokuhlala kwabo ezweni owalinika obaba.
41 “Futhi owezizwe ongesiye owabantu bakho u-Israyeli, lapho evela ezweni elikude ngenxa yegama lakho
42 ngokuba bayakuzwa ngegama lakho elikhulu, nangesandla sakho esinamandla, nangengalo yakho eyeluliweyo lapho ebeseza ukukhuleka kule ndlu,
43 mawuzwe wena ezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, wenze njengakho konke lo wezizwe akhala ngakho kuwe, ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi igama lakho, bakwesabe wena njengabantu bakho u-Israyeli nokuze bazi ukuthi le ndlu engiyakhileyo ibiziwe ngegama lakho.
44 “Uma abantu bakho bephuma impi ukulwa nesitha sabo ngendlela obathuma ngayo, bese bekhuleka kuJehova bebhekene nalo muzi owukhethileyo nale ndlu engiyakhele igama lakho,
45 mawuzwe wena ezulwini umkhuleko wabo nokunxusa kwabo, ubavume.
46 “Uma bona kuwe -- ngokuba akukho muntu ongoniyo -- bese wubathukuthelela wena, ubanikele esitheni, ukuze ababathumbayo babamukisele ezweni lesitha, likude noma liseduze,
47 kepha bese becabanga ezweni lapho bethunjelwe khona, baphenduke, banxuse kuwe ezweni lababathumbayo ngokuthi: ‘Sonile, senzile ngokuphambeneyo, saziphatha kabi;’
48 uma bephendukela kuwe ngayo yonke inhliziyo yabo nangawo wonke umphefumulo wabo ezweni lezitha zabo ezabathumba, bakhuleke kuwe bebhekene nezwe lakubo owalinika oyise, umuzi owukhethileyo, nendlu engiyakhele igama lakho,
49 mawuzwe wena ezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, umkhuleko wabo nokunxusa kwabo, ubavume,
50 uthethelele abantu bakho abonile kuwe nazo zonke iziphambeko zabo abaphambeke kuwe ngazo, ubanike ukuba bathole isihe phambi kwababathumbayo ukuba babaphathe ngesihe.
51 Ngokuba bangabantu bakho nefa lakho owalikhipha ezweni laseGibithe nasesithandweni sensimbi,
52 ukuba amehlo akho avulekele ukunxusa kwenceku yakho nokunxusa kwabantu bakho u-Israyeli ukubezwa kukho konke abakhala ngakho kuwe.
53 Ngokuba wena wabahlukanisa nabantu bonke bomhlaba, babe yifa lakho, njengalokho wakhuluma ngesandla sikaMose inceku yakho ekukhipheni obaba eGibithe, Nkosi Jehova.”
54 Kwathi uSolomoni eseqedile ukukhuleka wonke lo mkhuleko nalokho kunxusa kuJehova, wasuka e-altare likaJehova ekuguqeni ngamadolo akhe, izandla zakhe zelulelwe ngasezulwini.
55 Wema, wabusisa lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli ngezwi elikhulu, wathi:
56 “Makabongwe uJehova onike abantu bakhe u-Israyeli ukuphumula njengakho konke akushiloyo; akuwanga izwi elilodwa lakho konke ukukhuluma kwakhe okuhle akusho ngesandla sikaMose inceku yakhe.
57 UJehova uNkulunkulu wethu makabe nathi njengalokho ayenawobaba; makangasishiyi, angasilahli,
58 ukuze adonsele izinhliziyo zethu kuye ukuba sihambe ngezindlela zakhe zonke, sigcine imiyalo yakhe, nezimiso zakhe, nezahlulelo zakhe ayala ngakho obaba.
59 Lawo mazwi ami enginxuse ngawo phambi kukaJehova mawabe seduze noJehova uNkulunkulu wethu imini nobusuku ukuba avume inceku yakhe, avume nabantu bakhe u-Israyeli njengokudingeka kwemihla ngemihla,
60 ukuba abantu bonke bomhlaba bazi ukuthi uJehova nguye onguNkulunkulu; akakho omunye.
61 Inhliziyo mayibe kuJehova uNkulunkulu wethu ngokupheleleyo, nihambe ngezimiso zakhe, nigcine imiyalo yakhe njenganamuhla.”
62 Inkosi naye wonke u-Israyeli enayo banikela ngomhlatshelo phambi kukaJehova.
63 USolomoni wanikela kube ngumhlatshelo weminikelo yokuthula, owanikela ngawo kuJehova, izinkunzi eziyizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nambili nezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyikhulu namashumi amabili. Inkosi nabo bonke abantwana bakwa-Israyeli bahlambulula-ke indlu kaJehova.
64 Ngalona lolo suku inkosi yangcwelisa ingaphakathi legceke elalingaphambi kwendlu kaJehova, ngokuba wanikela lapho ngomnikelo wokushiswa, nangomnikelo wempuphu, nangamanoni eminikelo yokuthula, lokhu i-altare lethusi elaliphambi kukaJehova lalilincane ukuba liwamukele umnikelo wokushiswa, nomnikelo wempuphu, namanoni eminikelo yokuthula.
65 USolomoni wagubha-ke umkhosi ngaleso sikhathi naye wonke u-Israyeli enaye, ibandla elikhulu, kusukela ekuyeni eHamati kuze semfuleni waseGibithe, ngaphambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu izinsuku eziyisikhombisa nezinsuku eziyisikhombisa, okungukuthi izinsuku eziyishumi nane.
66 Ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili wabamukisa abantu, bayibusisa inkosi, baya ematendeni abo bejabula, bethokoza ngenhliziyo ngakho konke okuhle uJehova akwenzile kuDavide inceku yakhe naku-Israyeli abantu bakhe.