3 USolomoni wathumela kuHiramu inkosi yaseTire, wathi: “Njengalokho wakwenza kuDavide ubaba, wathuma kuye imisedari,* azakhele ngayo indlu ukuba ahlale kuyo, yenze njalo nakimi.
4 Bheka, ngiyakhela igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu wami indlu ukuba ngimngcwelisele yona, ngishise phambi kwakhe impepho ethaphukayo, kubekwe njalo izinkwa zokubukwa, kunikelwe ngeminikelo yokushiswa ekuseni nakusihlwa ngamasabatha, nangokwethwasa kwenyanga, nangemikhosi emisiweyo kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu. Lokhu kungumthetho kwa-Israyeli kuze kube phakade.
5 “Indlu engiyakuyakha iyakuba nkulu, ngokuba mkhulu uNkulunkulu wethu phezu kwabo bonke onkulunkulu.
6 Kodwa ngubani onamandla okumakhela indlu, lokhu izulu nezulu lamazulu lingemanele na? Pho, mina ngingubani ukuba ngimakhele indlu, ukuze kushiswe impepho phambi kwakhe na?
7 “Ngalokho mawuthume kimi umuntu oyingcweti yokusebenza ngegolide, nangesiliva, nangethusi, nangensimbi, nangokububende, nangokubomvu, nangokuluhlaza, owazi ukuqopha yonke imiqopho kanye nezingcweti ezinami kwaJuda naseJerusalema, ezamiswa nguDavide ubaba.
8 “Ngithumele futhi imisedari,* nemisayipuresi,* nemi-alimugi* evela eLebanoni, ngokuba ngiyazi ukuthi izinceku zakho ziyakwazi ukugawula imithi eLebanoni; bheka, izinceku zami ziyakuba nezinceku zakho
9 ukungilungisela imithi eminingi, ngokuba indlu engiyakuyakha iyakuba nkulu ngokumangalisayo.