历代志下 6
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
所罗门宣告建殿的理由(A)
6 那时所罗门说:
“耶和华曾说他要住在幽暗之中。
2 我已经为你建造了巍峨的殿宇,
作你永远居住的地方。”
3 然后王转过来,给以色列全体会众祝福,以色列全体会众都站着。
4 所罗门说:“耶和华以色列的 神是应当称颂的!他亲口对我的父亲大卫应许的,已亲手作成了,他说: 5 ‘自从我领我的子民从埃及地出来的那天,我没有在以色列众支派中,拣选一座城建造殿宇,使我的名留在那里;我也没有拣选一个人作领袖,统治我的子民以色列。 6 我却拣选了耶路撒冷,使我的名留在那里;也拣选了大卫,统治我的子民以色列。’ 7 我的父亲大卫有心要为耶和华以色列的 神的名建造殿宇。 8 耶和华却对我的父亲大卫说:‘你心想要为我的名建造殿宇,你心意很好; 9 不过不是由你建造殿宇,而是你的儿子,你亲生的儿子,他必为我的名建殿。’ 10 现在耶和华实现了他所说过的话,我已经起来接续我的父亲大卫,坐上了以色列的王位,就像耶和华所说的;我为耶和华以色列的 神的名建造了这殿。 11 我也把约柜安放在殿里,约柜中有耶和华和以色列人所立的约。”
所罗门献殿的祷告(B)
12 所罗门在以色列全体会众面前,站在耶和华的祭坛前,张开双手; 13 原来所罗门做了一座铜台,长两公尺两公寸,宽两公尺两公寸,高一公尺三公寸,安放在外院中。那时他站在铜台上,在以色列全体会众面前,屈膝下跪,向天张开双手, 14 说:“耶和华以色列的 神啊,天上地下没有神可以和你相比的,你向那些一心行在你面前的仆人,常是守约施慈爱的; 15 你对你的仆人我父亲大卫所应许的,你都遵守了,你亲口应许,也亲手成全,就像今日一样。 16 耶和华以色列的 神啊,你应许你的仆人我父亲大卫说:‘只要你的子孙谨守他们的行为,遵守我的律法,像你在我面前所行的一样,你就不会断人在我面前坐上以色列的王位。’现在求你应验这话吧。 17 耶和华以色列的 神啊,现在求你实现你向你的仆人大卫应许的话吧!
18 “ 神真的要和人住在地上吗?看哪,天和天上的天也容不下你,何况我建造的这殿呢? 19 耶和华我的 神啊,求你垂注你仆人的祷告和祈求,聆听你仆人在你面前所发的呼喊和祷告。 20 求你张开眼睛,昼夜看顾这殿,就是看顾你所说要立你名的地方;求你垂听你仆人向着这地方所发的祷告。 21 求你垂听你的仆人和你的子民以色列的祈求,就是他们向着这地方所发的祷告;求你从天上,从你的居所垂听,垂听和赦免。
22 “人若是得罪了邻舍,有人要他起誓,他就来到这殿,在你的祭坛前起誓; 23 求你从天上垂听,施行你的作为,审判你的仆人,照着恶人所行的报应在他头上;宣告义人无罪,照着他的义行赏赐他。
24 “如果你的子民以色列得罪了你,以致在仇敌面前被击败;后来回心转意,承认你的名,在这殿里向你祷告祈求, 25 求你从天上垂听,赦免你子民以色列的罪,领他们归回你赐给他们和他们列祖的土地。
26 “你的子民因得罪了你,你惩罚他们,使天闭塞不下雨;如果他们向着这地方祷告,承认你的名,离开他们的罪, 27 求你在天上垂听,赦免你的仆人和你的子民以色列的罪,把他们当行的正道指教他们,降雨在你的地上,就是你赐给你的子民作产业的地上。
28 “国中若是有饥荒、瘟疫、旱风、霉烂、蝗虫、蚂蚱,或是有仇敌围困城镇,或是有甚么灾祸,甚么疾病, 29 你的子民以色列,无论是个别或是全体,自知自己的灾祸和痛苦,向着这殿张开双手祷告或祈求, 30 求你从天上你的居所垂听和赦免他们,你是知道人心的,你必照着各人所行的报应各人;因为只有你知道世人的心。 31 使他们在你赐给我们列祖的地上,一生一世敬畏你,遵行你的道路。
32 “至于在你的子民以色列以外的外族人,他们为了你的大名、你大能的手和伸出来的膀臂,从远方而来;他们来向着这殿祷告的时候, 33 求你从天上,从你的居所垂听他们,照着外族人向你呼求的一切而行,使地上万民都认识你的名,敬畏你,像你的子民以色列一样;又使他们知道我建造的这殿,是奉为你名的所在。
34 “如果你的子民在你派他们出去的路上,和仇敌作战,他们向着你拣选的这城,和向着我为你的名建造的这殿向你祷告, 35 求你从天上垂听他们的祷告祈求,使他们得胜。
36 “如果你的子民得罪了你(因为世上没有不犯罪的人),你向他们发怒,把他们交在仇敌面前,以致仇敌把他们掳到外地或远或近; 37 如果他们在被掳去的地方回心转意,在被掳去的地方祈求你说:‘我们犯了罪了,我们作了孽了,我们行了恶了。’ 38 如果他们在被掳去的地方一心一意归向你,又向着他们自己的地,就是你赐给他们列祖的地,和向着你拣选的这城,以及向着我为你的名建造的这殿祷告, 39 求你从天上,从你的居所垂听他们的祷告祈求,为他们伸冤,赦免得罪了你的那些子民。
40 “我的 神啊,现在求你张开眼睛,求你的耳朵垂听在这地方献上的祷告。 41 现在,耶和华 神啊,求你起来,愿你和你有大能的约柜进入你安息的地方;耶和华 神啊,愿你的祭司都披上救恩;愿你的圣民在福乐中欢欣。 42 耶和华 神啊,求你不要转脸不顾你所膏的人:愿你记念你向你仆人大卫所施的慈爱。”
2 Chronicles 6
New English Translation
6 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives in thick darkness. 2 O Lord,[a] I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.” 3 Then the king turned around[b] and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.[c] 4 He said, “The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled[d] what he promised[e] my father David. 5 He told David,[f] ‘Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live.[g] Nor did I choose a man as leader of my people Israel. 6 But now I have chosen Jerusalem as a place to live,[h] and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.’ 7 Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the Lord God of Israel.[i] 8 The Lord told my father David, ‘It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.[j] 9 But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.’[k] 10 The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David’s place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the Lord God of Israel 11 and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the Lord made with the Israelites.”
12 He stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a bronze platform and had placed it in the middle of the enclosure. It was 7½[l] long, 7½[m] wide, and 4½ feet[n] high. He stood on it and then got down on his knees in front of the entire assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward the sky, 14 and prayed:[o] “O Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth! You maintain covenantal loyalty[p] to your servants who obey you with sincerity.[q] 15 You have kept your word to your servant, my father David;[r] this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.[s] 16 Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, ‘You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel,[t] provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done.’[u] 17 Now, O Lord God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.[v]
18 “God does not really live with humankind on the earth![w] Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built! 19 But respond favorably to[x] your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer[y] the desperate prayer[z] your servant is presenting to you.[aa] 20 Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live.[ab] May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place.[ac] 21 Respond to the requests of your servant and your people Israel for this place.[ad] Hear from your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably and forgive.[ae]
22 “When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple,[af] 23 listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.[ag]
24 “If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy[ah] because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you,[ai] and pray for your help[aj] before you in this temple, 25 then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.[ak]
26 “The time will come when[al] the skies[am] are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people[an] sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you,[ao] and turn away from their sin because you punish[ap] them, 27 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly[aq] you will then teach them the right way to live[ar] and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.[as]
28 “The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight, and disease, or a locust[at] invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land,[au] or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs. 29 When all your people Israel pray and ask for help,[av] as they acknowledge their intense pain[aw] and spread out their hands toward this temple, 30 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin,[ax] and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of their motives.[ay] (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)[az] 31 Then they will honor[ba] you by obeying you[bb] throughout their lifetimes as[bc] they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.
32 “Foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will come from a distant land because of your great reputation[bd] and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds;[be] they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple. 33 Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners.[bf] Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation,[bg] obey[bh] you as your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.[bi]
34 “When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies,[bj] and they direct their prayers to you toward this chosen city and this temple I built for your honor,[bk] 35 then listen from heaven to their prayers for help[bl] and vindicate them.[bm]
36 “The time will come when your people[bn] will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry at them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their land, whether far away or close by. 37 When your people[bo] come to their senses[bp] in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, ‘We have sinned and gone astray,[bq] we have done evil!’ 38 When they return to you with all their heart and being[br] in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,[bs] 39 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help,[bt] vindicate them,[bu] and forgive your sinful people.
40 “Now, my God, may you be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.[bv] 41 Now ascend, O Lord God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength! May your priests, O Lord God, experience your deliverance.[bw] May your loyal followers rejoice in the prosperity you give.[bx] 42 O Lord God, do not reject your chosen ones![by] Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 6:2 tn The words “O Lord” do not appear in the Hebrew text, but they are supplied in the translation for clarification; Solomon addresses the Lord in prayer at this point.
- 2 Chronicles 6:3 tn Heb “turned his face.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:3 tn Heb “and he blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:4 tn The Hebrew text reads, “fulfilled by his hand,” but the phrase “by his hand” is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- 2 Chronicles 6:4 tn The Hebrew text reads, “promised by his mouth,” but the phrase “by his mouth” is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- 2 Chronicles 6:5 tn Heb “saying.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:5 tn Heb “to build a house for my name to be there.” Here “name” is used by metonymy for the Lord himself, and thus the expression “to be there” refers to his taking up residence there (hence the translation, “a temple in which to live”). In this case the temple is referred to as a “house” where the Lord himself can reside.
- 2 Chronicles 6:6 tn Heb “for my name to be there.” See also the note on the word “live” in v. 5.
- 2 Chronicles 6:7 tn Heb “and it was with the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.”sn On the significance of the Lord’s “name,” see the note on the word “live” in v. 5.
- 2 Chronicles 6:8 tn Heb “Because it was with your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was with your heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:9 tn Heb “your son, the one who came out of your body, he will build the temple for my name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 tn Heb “5 cubits.” Assuming a cubit of 18 inches (45 cm), the length would have been 7.5 feet (2.25 m).
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 tn Heb “5 cubits.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:13 tn Heb “3 cubits.” Assuming a cubit of 18 inches (45 cm), the height would have been 4.5 feet (1.35 m).
- 2 Chronicles 6:14 tn Heb “said.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:14 tn Heb “one who keeps the covenant and the loyal love.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:14 tn Heb “who walk before you with all their heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:15 tn Heb “[you] who kept to your servant David my father that which you spoke to him.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:15 tn Heb “you spoke by your mouth and by your hand you fulfilled, as this day.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:16 tn Heb “there will not be cut off from you a man from before me sitting on the throne of Israel.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:16 tn Heb “guard their way by walking in my law as you have walked before me.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:17 tn Or “prove to be reliable.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:18 tn Heb “Indeed, can God really live with mankind on the earth?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course not,” the force of which is reflected in the translation “God does not really live with mankind on the earth.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “turn to.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “by listening to.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “the loud cry and the prayer.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:19 tn Heb “praying before you.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:20 tn Heb “so your eyes might be open toward this house night and day, toward the place about which you promised to place your name there.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:20 tn Heb “by listening to the prayer which your servant is praying concerning this place.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:21 tn Heb “listen to the requests of your servant and your people Israel which they are praying concerning this place.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:21 tn Heb “hear and forgive.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:22 tn Heb “and if the man who sins against his neighbor when one takes up against him a curse to curse him and the curse comes before your altar in this house.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:23 tn Heb “and you, hear [from] heaven and act and judge your servants by repaying the guilty, to give his way on his head, and to declare the innocent to be innocent, to give to him according to his innocence.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:24 tn Or “are struck down before an enemy.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:24 tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:24 tn Heb “and they pray and ask for help.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:25 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 31, 38).
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Heb “when.” In the Hebrew text vv. 26-27a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Or “heavens” (also in v. 12). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Heb “they.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn Heb “confess [or perhaps, “praise”] your name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:26 tn The Hebrew text reads “because you answer them,” as if the verb is from עָנָה (ʿanah, “answer”). However, this reference to a divine answer is premature, since the next verse asks for God to intervene in mercy. It is better to revocalize the consonantal text as תְעַנֵּם (teʿannem, “you afflict them”), a Piel verb form from the homonym עָנָה (“afflict”).
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 tn The present translation understands כִּי (ki) in an emphatic or asseverative sense (“Certainly”). Other translations have “indeed” (NASB), “when” (NRSV), “so” (NEB), or leave the word untranslated (NIV).
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 tn Heb “the good way in which they should walk.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:27 tn Or “for an inheritance.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:28 tn Actually two Hebrew words appear here, both of which are usually (but not always) taken as referring to locusts. Perhaps different stages of growth or different varieties are in view, but this is uncertain. NEB has “locusts new-sloughed or fully grown”; NASB has “locust or grasshopper”; NIV has “locusts or grasshoppers”; NRSV has “locust, or caterpillar.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:28 tn Heb “in the land, his gates.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:29 tn Heb “every prayer, every request for help which will be to all the people, to all your people Israel.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:29 tn Heb “which they know, each his pain and his affliction.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:30 tn The words “their sin” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for clarification.
- 2 Chronicles 6:30 tn Heb “and give to each one according to all his ways because you know his heart.” In the Hebrew text vv. 28-30a actually contain one lengthy conditional sentence, which the translation has divided up for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Chronicles 6:30 tn Heb “Indeed you know, you alone, the heart of the sons of mankind.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “fear.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “by walking in your ways.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:31 tn Heb “all the days [in] which.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:32 tn Heb “your great name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor (thus the translation here, “your great reputation”).
- 2 Chronicles 6:32 tn Heb “and your strong hand and your outstretched arm.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “and do all which the foreigner calls to [i.e., “requests of”] you.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “name.” See the note on “reputation” in v. 32.
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “fear.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:33 tn Heb “that your name is called over this house which I built.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28.
- 2 Chronicles 6:34 tn Heb “When your people go out for battle against their enemies in the way which you send them.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:34 tn Heb “toward this city which you have chosen and the house which I built for your name.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:35 tn Heb “their prayer and their request for help.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:35 tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:36 tn Heb “they”; the referent (God’s people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 tn Heb “they”; the referent (God’s people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 tn Or “stop and reflect”; Heb “bring back to their heart.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:37 tn Or “done wrong.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:38 tn Or “soul.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:38 tn Heb “your name.” The word “name” sometimes refers to one’s reputation or honor (thus the translation here, “your honor”).
- 2 Chronicles 6:39 tn Heb “their prayer and their requests for help.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:39 tn Heb “and accomplish their justice.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:40 tn Heb “May your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:41 tn Heb “be clothed with deliverance.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:41 tn Heb “and may your loyal ones rejoice in good.”
- 2 Chronicles 6:42 tc Heb “do not turn away the face of your anointed ones.” Many medieval Hebrew mss, as well as the ancient versions, read the singular, “your anointed,” which would probably refer to Solomon specifically, rather than the people.
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