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Ukungeniswa Komphongolo KaSimakade Ethempelini
1 USolomoni wayeseqoqa amalunga akwa-Israyeli nezinhloko zezizwana, abaholi boyise babantu bakwa-Israyeli babuthana enkosini uSolomoni eJerusalema, ukuze bakhuphule umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaSimakade emzini kaDavide iZiyoni. 2 Wonke amadoda akwa-Israyeli abuthana enkosini uSolomoni ngomkhosi ka-Ethanimi ngenyanga yesikhombisa.
3 Esefikile wonke amalunga akwa-Israyeli, abaphristi bawuphakamisa umphongolo. 4 Bawukhuphula umphongolo kaSimakade, nethende lokuhlangana, nazo zonke izinto ezingcwele ezazisethendeni, abaphristi nabaLevi bawukhuphula. 5 Inkosi uSolomoni nayo yonke inhlangano yakwa-Israyeli eyayihlangene lapho nayo phambi komphongolo, bahlaba izimvu nezinkomo ezingenakubalwa ngenxa yobuningi bazo.
6 Abaphristi bawungenisa umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaSimakade endaweni yawo egumbini lendlu eliphakathi; endaweni engcwelengcwele, phansi kwamaphiko amakherubhi. 7Amakherubhi ayelulele amaphiko awo phezu kwendawo yomphongolo, awusibekela umphongolo nezingongolo zawo ngaphezulu. 8 Izingongolo zazizinde kangangokuthi izihloko zazo zazibonakala endaweni engcwele, phambi kwegumbi elingaphakathi, kodwa zazingabonakali ngaphandle; zisekhona lapho kuze kube yinamuhla. 9 Kwakungekho lutho emphongolweni, kuphela izibhebhe ezimbili zamatshe ezazibekwe khona nguMose eHorebhe, lapho uSimakade enza khona isivumelwano nabantu bakwa-Israyeli ekuphumeni kwabo eGibhithe.
10 Kwathi lapho abaphristi sebephumile endaweni engcwele, ifu lagcwalisa indlu kaSimakade, 11 abaphristi abakwazanga ukuqhubeka nokukhonza ngenxa yefu, ngokuba inkazimulo kaSimakade yayigcwalisa indlu yakhe.
12 USolomoni wayesekhuluma, ethi: “USimakade ushilo ukuthi uyakuhlala esigayegayeni. 13 Ngikwakhele nokukwakhela indlu yokuhlala, indawo oyakuhlala kuyo kuze kube phakade.”
Inkulumo KaSolomoni Ebusisa Ibandla
14 Inkosi yayisiphenduka, yalibusisa lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, lalimi. 15 Yathi:
“Makabongwe uSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, owakhuluma ngomlomo wakhe kuDavide, ubaba, ukufezile lokhu ngesandla sakhe, ethi: 16 ‘Kusukela ngosuku engakhipha ngalo abantu bami u-Israyeli eGibhithe, angikhethanga muzi ezizwaneni zonke zakwa-Israyeli ukwakha indlu ukuba igama lami libe khona lapho, kepha ngamkhetha uDavide ukuba abuse abantu bami u-Israyeli.’
17 “Kwakusenhliziyweni kaDavide, ubaba, ukwakhela igama likaSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli indlu. 18Kepha uSimakade wathi kuDavide, ubaba: ‘Njengokuba kusenhliziyweni yakho ukwakhela igama lami indlu, wenza kahle, ngokuba kusenhliziyweni yakho lokho; 19 ngaphandle kokuthi awuyukuyakha indlu, kodwa indodana yakho eyakuphuma okhalo lwakho yiyona eyakukwakhela igama lami indlu.’
20 “USimakade uliqinisile izwi alikhulumayo, ngokuba mina ngingenile esikhundleni sikaDavide, ubaba, ngihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli njengokusho kukaSimakade, ngilakhele indlu igama likaSimakade uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. 21 Ngimisile lapho indawo yomphongolo okukuwo isivumelwano sikaSimakade asenza nokhokho lapho ebakhipha eGibhithe.”
Umkhuleko KaSolomoni Ephambi Kwe-Althare
22 USolomoni wema phambi kwe-althare likaSimakade, phambi kwalo lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli, welulela izandla zakhe ngasezulwini, 23 wathi: “Simakade Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, akekho unkulunkulu onjengawe phezulu ezulwini nasemhlabeni phansi, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nezinceku zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo, 24okufezile encekwini yakho uDavide, ubaba, lokho owakusho kuyo; yebo, lokho owakukhuluma ngomlomo wakho ukufezile ngesandla sakho njengokuba kunjalo namuhla.
25 “Ngakho-ke Simakade Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kufeze encekwini yakho uDavide, ubaba, lokho owakusho kuyo wathi: ‘Akunakwenzeka ukuba kungabi bikho muntu phambi kwami ovela kuwe oyakuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwa-Israyeli, kuphela nje uma abozalo lwakho beyoqaphela indlela yabo ukuba bahambe phambi kwami, njengalokhu wena wenzile phambi kwami.’ 26 Ngakho-ke Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, maliqiniswe izwi lakho owalisho encekwini yakho uDavide, ubaba.
27 “Kepha uNkulunkulu uyakuhlala ngempela yini emhlabeni na? Ngisho izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukumumatha; pho ibiyini-ke le ndlu encane engiyakhileyo na? 28Mawulalele umkhuleko wenceku yakho nokunxusa kwayo, Simakade Nkulunkulu wami, kuzwe ukukhala nokukhuleka inceku yakho ekukhuleka phambi kwakho namuhla, 29 ukuba amehlo akho ayibheke le ndlu ubusuku nemini, indawo owathi ngayo: ‘Igama lami liyakuba khona lapho,’ ukuze ulalele umkhuleko inceku yakho eyakuwukhuleka ibhekene nale ndawo. 30 Ukulalele ukunxusa kwenceku yakho nokwabantu bakho u-Israyeli abayakukukhuleka bekule ndawo, kuzwe usendaweni yakho ohlala kuyo ezulwini, nalapho usuzwile, uthethelele.
31 “Uma umuntu ona umakhelwane wakhe, athweswe isifungo, bese efunga phambi kwe-althare lakho kule ndlu, 32 mawuzwe Wena usezulwini, wenze, wehlulele izinceku zakho, kulahlwe ngecala omubi, ubeke indlela yakhe phezu kwekhanda lakhe, ukhulule olungileyo, umnike njengokulunga kwakhe.
33 “Lapho abantu bakho u-Israyeli benqotshwa yisitha, ngenxa yokuba bonile kuwe, kepha bese bebuya bephindela kuwe, balivume igama lakho, bakhuleke, becela umusa kuwe bekule ndlu, 34mawuzwe Wena usezulwini, uthethelele isono sabantu bakho u-Israyeli, ubabuyisele ezweni owalinika okhokho babo.
35 “Lapho izulu livaliwe, kungekho mvula, ngokuba bonile kuwe, kepha bese bekhuleka bekule ndawo, badumise iGama lakho, baphenduke esonweni sabo, abashaywe ngenxa yaso, 36 mawuzwe Wena usezulwini, uthethelele isono sezinceku zakho nesabantu bakho u-Israyeli, lapho ubafundisa indlela enhle abayakuhamba ngayo, uthumele imvula ezweni lakho obanike lona abantu bakho ukuba libe yifa labo.
37 “Uma kukhona indlala ezweni, ubhubhane, ukuhwamuka, isikhutha, isikhonyane, umswenya, noma isitha sabo sibavimbezela ezweni emasangweni abo, noma ngabe iyiphi inhlupheko nobhubhane, 38bese kuzwakala nanoma yimuphi umkhuleko, nanoma yikuphi ukunxusa, okuvela kunoma yimuphi umuntu, nakubo bonke abantu bakho, u-Israyeli, ngamunye azi inhlupheko yenhliziyo yakhe, elulele izandla zakhe kule ndlu, 39 mawuzwe Wena usezulwini, indawo yakho ohlala kuyo, uyakuthethelela, wenze, unike yilowo nalowo njengezindlela zakhe, ngokuba nguwe wedwa owazi okusenhliziyweni yalowo nalowo muntu, 40ukuze bakwesabe zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwabo ezweni owalinika okhokho babo.
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, bese eza akhuleke kule ndlu, 43 mawuzwe Wena usezulwini, indawo yakho ohlala kuyo, wenze njengakho konke owezizwe akucelile kuwe, ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba balazi igama lakho, bakwesabe Wena njengabantu bakho, u-Israyeli, baze bazi ukuthi igama lakho libiziwe phezu kwale ndlu engiyakhileyo.
44 “Uma abantu bakho bephuma impi, beyolwa nesitha sabo ngendlela obathuma ngayo, bese bekhuleka kuSimakade, bebheke kulo muzi owukhethileyo nakule ndlu engiyakhele igama lakho, 45mawuzwe Wena usezulwini umkhuleko wabo nokunxusa kwabo, ubenzele ubulungiswa.
46 “Uma bona kuwe ngokuba akukho muntu ongoniyo, bese ubathukuthelela, ubanikele esitheni, bathunjwe, bayiswe ezweni lesitha esibathumbileyo, elikude noma eliseduze, 47 kepha bese ubuya umqondo wabo besezweni abathunjelwe kulo, baphenduke, bakunxuse besezweni lababathumbileyo bathi: ‘Sonile, senze okungalungile, senze okubi;’ 48 uma bephendukela kuwe ngenhliziyo yabo yonke nangawo wonke umphefumulo wabo besezweni lezitha zabo ezibathumbileyo, bakhuleke kuwe bebheke ezweni lakubo owalinika okhokho babo, umuzi owukhethileyo, nendlu engiyakhele igama lakho, 49mawuzwe Wena usezulwini, indawo yakho yokuhlala, umkhuleko wabo nokunxusa kwabo, ubenzele ubulungiswa, 50 uthethelele abantu bakho abonile kuwe, nazo zonke iziphambeko zabo abaphambuke kuwe ngazo, ubenzele ukuba bathole isihe phambi kwababathumbileyo, babaphathe ngesihe, 51 ngokuba bangabantu bakho nefa lakho owalikhipha eGibhithe nasesithandweni somlilo wensimbi. 52 Amehlo akho mawavulekele ukunxusa kwenceku yakho nokunxusa kwabantu bakho, u-Israyeli, ubezwe kukho konke abakhala ngakho kuwe. 53 Ngokuba Wena wazehlukanisela bona phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe zomhlaba, ukuba babe yifa lakho, njengalokho wawukhulumile ngesandla sikaMose, inceku yakho, ngesikhathi ukhipha okhokho bethu eGibhithe, Nkosi Simakade.”
USolomoni Ubusisa Ibandla
54 Kwathi uSolomoni eseqedile ukukhuleka wonke lo mkhuleko nokunxusa kuSimakade, wasuka phambi kwe-althare likaSimakade ekuguqeni ngamadolo akhe, izandla zakhe zelulelwe ngasezulwini. 55 Wema, walibusisa lonke ibandla lakwa-Israyeli ngezwi elikhulu, wathi:
56 “Makabongwe uSimakade onike abantu bakhe, u-Israyeli, ukuphumula njengakho konke akushilo; akukho nelilodwa izwi elehlulekile kuwo wonke amazwi akhe amahle awakhuluma ngesandla sikaMose, inceku yakhe. 57 USimakade uNkulunkulu wethu makabe nathi njengalokhu ayenokhokho bethu; makangasishiyi, angasilahli, 58 ukuze adonsele izinhliziyo zethu kuye ukuba sihambe ngezindlela zakhe zonke, sigcine imiyalo yakhe, izimiso zakhe, nezehlulelo zakhe ayala ngakho okhokho bethu. 59Sengathi amazwi ami enginxusa ngawo phambi kukaSimakade angaba seduze noSimakade uNkulunkulu wethu imini nobusuku ukuba enzele inceku yakhe nabantu bakhe, u-Israyeli, ubulungiswa, njengokwezidingo zemihla ngemihla, 60 ukuze bonke abantu bomhlaba bazi ukuthi uSimakade nguye onguNkulunkulu; akekho omunye. 61 Inhliziyo yenu mayibe kuSimakade uNkulunkulu wethu ngokupheleleyo, nihambe ngezimiso zakhe, nigcine imiyalo yakhe njenganamuhla.”
Ukwethulwa Kwendlu KuSimakade
62 Inkosi naye wonke u-Israyeli, ekanye nayo, banikela ngomhlatshelo phambi kukaSimakade. 63 USolomoni wanikela ngomhlatshelo weminikelo yokuthula, awunikela kuSimakade, izinkunzi eziyizi-22 000, nezimvu eziyizi-120 000. Inkosi nabo bonke abakwa-Israyeli bayibusisa indlu kaSimakade.
64 Ngalona lolo suku inkosi yangcwelisa ingaphakathi legceke elalingaphambi kwendlu kaSimakade, yanikela lapho ngomnikelo wokushiswa, ngomnikelo wempuphu, nangamanoni eminikelo yokuthula, lokhu i-althare lethusi elaliphambi kukaSimakade lalilincane ukuba liwamukele umnikelo wokushiswa, nomnikelo wempuphu, namanoni eminikelo yokuthula.
65 USolomoni wawugubha-ke umkhosi ngaleso sikhathi naye wonke u-Israyeli enaye, ibandla elikhulu, kusukela eLebho Hamathi kuze kube semfuleni eGibhithe, ngaphambi kukaSimakade uNkulunkulu wethu, izinsuku eziyisikhombisa nezinsuku eziyisikhombisa, okungukuthi izinsuku ezili-14. 66Ngosuku lwesishiyagalombili wabamukisa abantu, bayibusisa inkosi, babuyela emathendeni abo bejabula, bethokoza ngakho konke okuhle uSimakade akwenzile kuDavide, inceku yakhe, naku-Israyeli, abantu bakhe.