1Then Solomon said, “Lord, you have said you would live in a dark cloud. 2I’ve built a beautiful temple for you. You can live in it forever.”
3The whole community of Israel was standing there. The king turned around and gave them his blessing. 4Then he said,
“I praise the Lord. He is the God of Israel. With his mouth he made a promise to my father David. With his powerful hands he made it come true. He said, 5‘I brought my people out of Egypt. Since then, a temple for my Name has not been built. I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel for that purpose. And I have not chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. 6But now I have chosen Jerusalem. I will put my Name there. And I have chosen David to rule over my people Israel.’
7“With all his heart my father David wanted to build a temple. He wanted to do it so the Name of the Lord could be there. The Lord is the God of Israel. 8But the Lord spoke to my father David. He said, ‘With all your heart you wanted to build a temple for my Name. It is good that you wanted to do that. 9But you will not build the temple. Instead, your son will build the temple for my Name. He is your own flesh and blood.’
10“The Lord has kept the promise he made. I’ve become the next king after my father David. Now I’m sitting on the throne of Israel. That’s exactly what the Lord promised would happen. I’ve built the temple for the Name of the Lord. He is the God of Israel. 11I’ve placed the ark there. The tablets of the Lord’s covenant are inside it. He made that covenant with the people of Israel.”
Solomon Prays to Set the Temple Apart to the Lord
12Then Solomon stood in front of the Lord’s altar. He stood in front of the whole community of Israel. He spread out his hands to pray. 13He had made a bronze stage. It was seven and a half feet long and seven and a half feet wide. It was four and a half feet high. He had placed it in the center of the outer courtyard. He stood on the stage. Then he got down on his knees in front of the whole community of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven. 14He said,
“Lord, you are the God of Israel. There is no God like you in heaven or on earth. You keep the covenant you made with us. You show us your love. You do that when we follow you with all our hearts. 15You have kept your promise to my father David. He was your servant. With your mouth you made a promise. With your powerful hand you have made it come true. And today we can see it.
16“Lord, you are the God of Israel. Keep the promises you made to my father David. Do it for him. He was your servant. You said to him, ‘You will always have a son from your family line to sit on Israel’s throne. He will sit in front of the Most Holy Room, where my own throne is. That will be true only if your children after you are careful in everything they do. They must live the way my law tells them to. That is the way you have lived.’ 17Lord, you are the God of Israel. So let your promise to your servant David come true.
18“But will God really live on earth with human beings? After all, the heavens can’t hold you. In fact, even the highest heavens can’t hold you. So this temple I’ve built certainly can’t hold you! 19But please pay attention to my prayer. Lord my God, be ready to help me as I make my appeal to you. Listen to my cry for help. Hear the prayer I’m praying to you. 20Let your eyes look toward this temple day and night. You said you would put your Name here. Listen to the prayer I’m praying toward this place. 21Hear me when I ask you to help us. Listen to your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Listen to us from heaven. It’s the place where you live. When you hear us, forgive us.
22“Suppose someone does something wrong to their neighbor. And the person who has done something wrong is required to give their word. They must tell the truth about what they have done. They must come and do it in front of your altar in this temple. 23When they do, listen to them from heaven. Take action. Judge between the person and their neighbor. Pay back the guilty one. Do to them what they have done to their neighbor. Deal with the one who isn’t guilty in a way that shows they are free from blame. That will prove they aren’t guilty.
24“Suppose your people Israel have lost the battle against their enemies. And suppose they’ve sinned against you. But they turn back to you and praise your name. They pray to you in this temple. And they ask you to help them. 25Then listen to them from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land you gave to them and their people who lived long ago.
26“Suppose your people have sinned against you. And because of that, the sky is closed up and there isn’t any rain. But your people pray toward this place. They praise you by admitting they’ve sinned. And they turn away from their sin because you have made them suffer. 27Then listen to them from heaven. Forgive the sin of your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live. Send rain on the land you gave them as their share.
28“Suppose there isn’t enough food in the land. And a plague strikes the land. The hot winds completely dry up our crops. Or locusts or grasshoppers come and eat them up. Or enemies surround one of our cities and get ready to attack it. Or trouble or sickness comes. 29But suppose one of your people prays to you. They ask you to help them. They are aware of how much they are suffering. And they spread out their hands toward this temple to pray. 30Then listen to them from heaven. It’s the place where you live. Forgive them. Deal with everyone in keeping with everything they do. You know their hearts. In fact, you are the only one who knows every human heart. 31Your people will have respect for you. They will live the way you want them to. They’ll live that way as long as they are in the land you gave our people long ago.
32“Suppose an outsider who doesn’t belong to your people Israel has come from a land far away. They have come because they’ve heard about your great name. They have heard that you reached out your mighty hand and powerful arm. So they come and pray toward this temple. 33Then listen to them from heaven. It’s the place where you live. Do what that outsider asks you to do. Then all the nations on earth will know you. They will have respect for you. They’ll respect you just as your own people Israel do. They’ll know that your Name is in this house I’ve built.
34“Suppose your people go to war against their enemies. It doesn’t matter where you send them. And suppose they pray to you toward this city you have chosen. They pray toward the temple I’ve built for your Name. 35Then listen to them from heaven. Listen to their prayer. Listen to them when they ask you to help them. Stand up for them.
36“Suppose they sin against you. After all, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t sin. And suppose you get angry with them. You hand them over to their enemies. They take them as prisoners to another land. It doesn’t matter whether that land is near or far away. 37But suppose your people change their ways in the land where they are held as prisoners. They turn away from their sins. They beg you to help them in the land where they are prisoners. They say, ‘We have sinned. We’ve done what is wrong. We’ve done what is evil.’ 38And they turn back to you with all their heart and soul. Suppose it happens in the land where they were taken as prisoners. There they pray toward the land you gave their people long ago. They pray toward the city you have chosen. And they pray toward the temple I’ve built for your Name. 39Then listen to them from heaven. It’s the place where you live. Listen to their prayer. Listen to them when they ask you to help them. Stand up for them. Your people have sinned against you. Please forgive them.
40“My God, let your eyes see us. Let your ears pay attention to the prayers offered in this place.
41“Lord God, rise up and come to your resting place.
Come in together with the ark.
It’s the sign of your power.
Lord God, may your priests put on salvation as if it were their clothes.
May your faithful people be glad because you are so good.
42Lord God, don’t turn your back on your anointed king.
Remember the great love you promised to your servant David.”
Kuweka Hekalu Wakfu
(1 Wafalme 8:12-21)
16:1 1Fal 8:12; Kut 19:9; Law 16:2; Ebr 12:18; Kut 20:21; 24:15-18; Za 18:8-11Ndipo Solomoni akasema, “Bwana alisema kwamba ataishi katika giza nene. 26:2 Ezr 7:15; Za 135:21Nimejenga Hekalu zuri kwa ajili yako, mahali pako pa kukaa milele.”
3Kusanyiko lote la Israeli lilipokuwa limesimama hapo, mfalme akageuka na kuwabariki. 4Kisha akasema:
“Ahimidiwe Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, ambaye kwa mikono yake mwenyewe ametimiza lile alilomwahidi Daudi baba yangu kwa kinywa chake mwenyewe. Kwa kuwa alisema, 5‘Tangu siku niliyowatoa watu wangu kutoka Misri, sikuchagua mji katika kabila lolote la Israeli ili Hekalu lijengwe humo ili Jina langu lipate kuwamo humo, wala sikumchagua mtu yeyote kuwa kiongozi wa watu wangu Israeli. 66:6 Za 78:68-70; Kum 12:5; Kut 20:24; 2Nya 12:13; 1Nya 28:4; 1Sam 16:1; Za 89:19-20Lakini sasa nimeuchagua Yerusalemu ili Jina langu lipate kuwamo humo, na nimemchagua Daudi kuwatawala watu wangu Israeli.’
76:7 2Sam 7:2; 1Nya 28:2; Mdo 7:46; 1Fal 7:3“Ilikuwa moyoni mwa Daudi baba yangu kujenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina la Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. 86:8 1Fal 8:18-21; 2Kor 8:12Lakini Bwana akamwambia Daudi baba yangu, ‘Kwa sababu ilikuwa moyoni mwako kujenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina langu, ulifanya vyema kuwa na jambo hili moyoni mwako. 9Hata hivyo, sio wewe utakayenijengea Hekalu, bali mwanao, ambaye ni nyama yako na damu yako mwenyewe, yeye ndiye atakayejenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina langu.’
10“Bwana ametimiza ahadi aliyoiweka: Nimeingia mahali pa Daudi baba yangu na sasa ninakikalia kiti cha ufalme cha Israeli, kama vile Bwana alivyoahidi, nami nimejenga Hekalu kwa ajili ya Jina la Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli. 116:11 Kut 40:20; 10:2; Za 50:5; 1Fal 8:9-21; 2Nya 5:10Nimeliweka humo Sanduku la Agano, ambamo ndani yake kuna lile Agano la Bwana alilofanya na watu wa Israeli.”
Maombi Ya Solomoni Ya Kuweka Wakfu
(1 Wafalme 8:22-53)
126:12 1Fal 8:22; Ebr 9:5; 1Tim 2:8Kisha Solomoni akasimama mbele ya madhabahu ya Bwana machoni pa kusanyiko lote la Israeli, naye akakunjua mikono yake. 136:13 Neh 8:4; Za 95:6Basi Solomoni alikuwa ametengeneza jukwaa la shaba, urefu wake dhiraa tano, na upana wake dhiraa tano na kimo chake dhiraa tatu, naye akaliweka katikati ya ukumbi wa nje. Akapanda juu ya hilo jukwaa kisha akapiga magoti mbele ya kusanyiko lote la Israeli, akanyoosha mikono yake kwelekea mbinguni. 146:14 Kut 15:11; 8:10; Mwa 5:24; Kum 7:9; Dan 9:4; 2Sam 7:22; Za 86:8Akasema:
“Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, hakuna Mungu kama wewe juu mbinguni wala chini duniani, wewe unayetunza Agano lako la upendo na watumishi wanaodumu katika njia yako kwa moyo wote. 156:15 1Nya 22:9-10Umetimiza ahadi yako kwa mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu, kwa kinywa chako uliahidi na kwa mkono wako umetimiza, kama ilivyo leo.
166:16 1Fal 2:4; 2Nya 7:18; Za 132:12; 2Sam 7:12-16; 1Fal 6:12“Sasa Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, mtimizie mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu ahadi zako ulizomwahidi uliposema, ‘Kamwe hutakosa kuwa na mtu atakayeketi mbele zangu kwenye kiti cha ufalme cha Israeli, kama wanao wakiangalia yote wayafanyayo kuenenda mbele zangu kama vile ulivyofanya.’ 17Sasa, Ee Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, acha neno lako lile ulilomwahidi mtumishi wako Daudi baba yangu litimie.
186:18 Ufu 21:3; Isa 40:22; Mdo 7:49; Za 113:5-6; 2Nya 2:6“Lakini kweli, je, Mungu atafanya makao duniani na wanadamu? Mbingu, hata mbingu zilizo juu sana, haziwezi kukutosha wewe. Sembuse Hekalu hili nililojenga! 19Hata hivyo sikiliza dua ya mtumishi wako na maombi yake kwa huruma, Ee Bwana Mungu wangu. Sikia kilio na dua ambayo mtumishi wako anaomba mbele zako siku hii ya leo. 206:20 Dan 6:10; Kut 3:16; Kum 12:11; 2Nya 7:14; 30:20; Za 33:18; 34:15Macho yako na yafumbuke kuelekea Hekalu hili usiku na mchana, mahali hapa ambapo ulisema, ‘Jina langu litakuwako humo,’ ili kwamba upate kusikia maombi ambayo mtumishi wako ataomba kuelekea mahali hapa. 216:21 Isa 43:25; 55:7; Mik 7:18; Isa 44:22Usikie maombi ya mtumishi wako na ya watu wako Israeli wakati wanapoomba kuelekea mahali hapa. Sikia kutoka mbinguni, mahali pa makao yako na usikiapo, samehe.
226:22 Kut 22:11“Mtu anapomkosea jirani yake na akatakiwa kuapa, akija na kuapa mbele ya madhabahu yako ndani ya Hekalu hili, 236:23 Isa 3:11; Rum 2:8; Mt 16:27basi, sikia kutoka mbinguni na ukatende. Hukumu kati ya watumishi wako, ukimwadhibu yule mwenye hatia kwa kuleta juu ya kichwa chake yale aliyoyatenda. Umtangazie mwenye haki kwamba hana hatia, hivyo ukathibitishe kuwa haki kwake.
246:24 Law 26:17; Kum 32:15; Amu 2:11-15; Za 51:4“Wakati watu wako Israeli watakapokuwa wameshindwa na adui kwa sababu ya dhambi walizofanya dhidi yako, watakapokugeukia na kulikiri jina lako, wakiomba na kufanya dua kwako katika Hekalu hili, 25basi usikie kutoka mbinguni, ukasamehe dhambi ya watu wako Israeli na kuwarudisha katika nchi uliyowapa baba zao.
266:26 2Sam 1:21; Lk 4:25; 1Fal 17:1; Law 26:10“Wakati mbingu zitakapokuwa zimefungwa kusiwe na mvua kwa sababu watu wako wametenda dhambi dhidi yako, watakapoomba kuelekea mahali hapa na kulikiri jina lako nao wakageuka kutoka dhambi zao kwa sababu umewaadhibu, 276:27 2Nya 7:14; Yn 6:45; Zek 10:1; 1Fal 8:35, 36; Za 94:12basi usikie kutoka mbinguni na usamehe dhambi ya watumishi wako, watu wako Israeli. Wafundishe njia sahihi ya kuishi na ukanyeshe mvua juu ya nchi uliyowapa watu wako kuwa urithi.
286:28 2Nya 20:9“Wakati njaa au tauni vikija juu ya nchi, au koga au kawa, nzige au panzi, au wakati adui atakapowazingira katika mji wao wowote, maafa ya namna yoyote au ugonjwa wowote unaoweza kuwajia, 29wakati dua au maombi yatakapofanywa na mmojawapo wa watu wako Israeli, kila mmoja akitambua taabu zake na uchungu wake, naye akainyoosha mikono yake kuelekea Hekalu hili, 306:30 1Sam 2:3; 1Nya 28:9; Za 11:4basi usikie kutoka mbinguni, katika makao yako. Usamehe na utende, umpe kila mtu kulingana na matendo yake, kwa kuwa unaujua moyo wake (kwa kuwa ni wewe peke yako ujuaye mioyo ya watu wote), 316:31 Kum 6:13; Za 34:7-9ili wakuogope kwa wakati wote watakaoishi katika nchi uliyowapa baba zetu.
326:32 2Nya 9:6; Kum 4:6-8; Yn 12:20; Mdo 8:27; Kut 3:19-20; Kum 4:6-8; Za 113:3; Isa 56:3-8; Yn 10:16“Kwa habari ya mgeni ambaye si miongoni mwa watu wako Israeli, lakini amekuja kutoka nchi ya mbali kwa sababu ya jina lako kuu na mkono wako wenye nguvu ulionyooshwa, atakapokuja kuomba kuelekea Hekalu hili, 336:33 Kut 12:43; 2Nya 7:14basi na usikie kutoka mbinguni, mahali pa makao yako, ukafanye lolote ambalo mgeni huyo anakuomba, ili mataifa yote ya dunia wapate kujua jina lako na wakuogope kama wafanyavyo watu wako Israeli nao wapate pia kujua kwamba nyumba hii niliyoijenga imeitwa kwa Jina lako.
346:34 Kum 28:7; 1Nya 5:20“Wakati watu wako watakapokwenda vitani dhidi ya adui zao, popote utakapowapeleka, wakati watakapoomba kwa Bwana kuelekea mji ambao umeuchagua, na Hekalu nililolijenga kwa ajili ya Jina lako, 35basi usikie dua na maombi yao kutoka mbinguni, ukawatetee haki yao.
366:36 1Fal 8:46; Law 26:44; Rum 3:9; Ay 15:14-16; Mit 20:9; Mhu 7:20; Yak 3:2“Watakapotenda dhambi dhidi yako, kwa kuwa hakuna mtu yeyote ambaye hatendi dhambi, nawe ukachukizwa nao na kuwakabidhi kwa adui, ambaye atawachukua utumwani katika nchi iliyo mbali au karibu 376:37 1Fal 8:48; Isa 58:3; Yer 24:6-7na kama watabadilika mioyo yao katika nchi wanakoshikiliwa mateka, nao wakatubu na kukulilia katika nchi ya utumwa na kusema, ‘Tumetenda dhambi, tumefanya makosa na tumetenda uovu’; 386:38 Yer 29:12-13kama wakikugeukia kwa moyo wao wote na nafsi zao katika nchi ya adui zao ambao waliwachukua mateka, wakakuomba kuelekea nchi uliyowapa baba zao, kuelekea mji uliouchagua na Hekalu nililolijenga kwa ajili ya Jina lako, 39basi kutoka mbinguni, mahali pa makao yako, usikie dua yao na maombi yao na kuitetea haki yao. Uwasamehe watu wako, waliotenda dhambi dhidi yako.
406:40 Za 130:2; Isa 37:17“Sasa, Mungu wangu, macho yako na yafumbuke na masikio yako yasikie maombi yaombwayo mahali hapa.
416:41 Isa 33:10; Neh 9:25; Isa 51:10; Za 132:16; 1Nya 28:2“Sasa inuka, Ee Bwana Mungu,
na uje mahali pako pa kupumzikia,
wewe na Sanduku la nguvu zako.
Makuhani wako, Ee Bwana Mungu,
na wavikwe wokovu,
watakatifu wako na wafurahi
katika wema wako.
426:42 Za 89:24-28; Isa 55:3Ee Bwana Mungu, usimkatae
mpakwa mafuta wako.
Kumbuka upendo mkuu uliomwahidia
Daudi mtumishi wako.”
