Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

Then (A)Solomon spoke:

“The Lord said He would dwell in the (B)dark cloud.
I have surely built You an exalted house,
And (C)a place for You to dwell in forever.”

Solomon’s Speech upon Completion of the Work(D)

Then the king turned around and (E)blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, (F)saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My people Israel. (G)Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there, and I (H)have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ Now (I)it was in the heart of my father David to build a [a]temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well in that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My (J)name.’ 10 So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and (K)sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 11 And there I have put the ark, (L)in which is the covenant of the Lord which He made with the children of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(M)

12 (N)Then [b]Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands 13 (for Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven); 14 and he said: “Lord God of Israel, (O)there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your (P)covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 15 (Q)You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 16 Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, (R)‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, (S)only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 And now, O Lord God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David.

18 “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? (T)Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this [c]temple which I have built! 19 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You: 20 that Your eyes may be (U)open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes (V)toward this place. 21 And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, (W)forgive.

22 “If anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an (X)oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, 23 then hear from heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, bringing retribution on the wicked by bringing his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his (Y)righteousness.

24 “Or if Your people Israel are defeated before an (Z)enemy because they have sinned against You, and return and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to them and their fathers.

26 “When the (AA)heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, 27 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

28 “When there (AB)is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever (AC)sickness there is; 29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone (AD)know the (AE)hearts of the sons of men), 31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

32 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, (AF)who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; 33 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that [d]this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, wherever You send them, and when they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

36 “When they sin against You (for there is (AG)no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them (AH)captive to a land far or near; 37 yet when they [e]come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’; 38 and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been carried captive, and pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the (AI)city which You have chosen, and toward the temple which I have built for Your name: 39 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 40 Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be (AJ)open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place.

41 “Now(AK) therefore,
Arise, O Lord God, to Your (AL)resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
And let Your saints (AM)rejoice in goodness.

42 “O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your Anointed;
(AN)Remember the mercies of Your servant David.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 6:7 Lit. house, and so in vv. 8–10
  2. 2 Chronicles 6:12 Lit. he
  3. 2 Chronicles 6:18 Lit. house
  4. 2 Chronicles 6:33 Lit. Your name is called upon this house
  5. 2 Chronicles 6:37 Lit. bring back to their hearts

(A)Mu kiseera ekyo Sulemaani n’ayogera nti, “Mukama eyagamba nti Alituula mu kizikiza ekikutte; (B)nkuzimbidde yeekaalu ey’ekitiibwa, ekifo ky’onoobeerangamu emirembe gyonna.”

Awo kabaka n’akyuka n’atunuulira ekibiina kyonna ekya Isirayiri ekyali kiyimiridde awo, n’abasabira omukisa. N’ayogera nti,

“Yeebazibwe Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri, atuukiriza n’omukono gwe ekyo kye yasuubiza n’akamwa ke eri Dawudi kitange, ng’agamba nti,

“ ‘Okuva ku lunaku lwe naggya abantu bange mu nsi y’e Misiri, tewali kibuga kye nnalonda mu bika byonna ebya Isirayiri okuzimba mu eyeekaalu olw’erinnya lyange, wadde omuntu yenna okuba omukulembeze w’abantu bange Isirayiri. (C)Naye kaakano nnonze Yerusaalemi okubeeramu Erinnya lyange, era nnonze Dawudi okufuga abantu bange Isirayiri.’ 

(D)“Kitange Dawudi yali akiteeseteese mu mutima gwe okuzimbira Erinnya lya Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri eyeekaalu. Naye Mukama n’agamba kitange Dawudi nti, ‘Newaakubadde nga kyali mu mutima gwo okuzimbira Erinnya lyange eyeekaalu, era wakola bulungi okuba nakyo mu mutima gwo, naye si ggwe olizimba yeekaalu eyo, wabula mutabani wo, ow’omubiri gwo n’omusaayi gwo; y’alizimbira Erinnya lyange eyeekaalu.’ 

10 “Kaakano, Mukama atuukirizza kye yasuubiza. Nsikidde Dawudi kitange, era ntudde ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka bwa Isirayiri, nga Mukama bwe yasuubiza, era nzimbidde Erinnya lya Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri eyeekaalu. 11 (E)Era omwo mwe ntadde essanduuko, omuli endagaano eya Mukama ggye yakola n’abantu ba Isirayiri.”

Okusaba kwa Sulemaani okw’Okuwonga Eyeekaalu

12 Awo Sulemaani n’ayimirira mu maaso g’ekyoto kya Mukama mu maaso g’ekibiina kyonna ekya Isirayiri, n’ayimusa emikono gye. 13 (F)Yali akoze ekituuti eky’ekikomo, ekyali mita bbiri ne desimoolo ssatu obuwanvu n’obugazi mita bbiri ne desimoolo ssatu, n’obugulumivu mita emu ne desimoolo ssatu, era ng’akitadde wakati mu luggya olw’ebweru era kye yali ayimiriddeko. N’afukamira mu maaso g’ekibiina kyonna ekya Isirayiri, n’ayimusa emikono gye eri eggulu. 14 (G)N’ayogera nti,

“Ayi Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri tewali Katonda akufaanana mu ggulu newaakubadde ku nsi, atuukiriza endagaano ye ey’okwagala eri abaddu be abatambulira mu maaso ge n’emitima gyabwe gyonna. 15 (H)Otuukirizza ekyo kye wasuubiza omuddu wo Dawudi kitange, kubanga wasuubiza n’akamwa ko, era okituukirizza n’omukono gwo leero.

16 (I)“Kaakano Ayi Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri, tuukiriza ebyo bye wasuubiza Dawudi kitange bwe wayogera nti, ‘Tolirema kufuna musika mu maaso gange kutuula ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka bwa Isirayiri, ab’ezzadde lyo bwe baneegenderezanga okutambuliranga mu maaso gange ng’etteeka lyange bwe liri, nga ggwe bw’otambulidde mu maaso gange.’ 17 Kale nno, Ayi Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri ekigambo kyo kye wasuubiza Dawudi omuddu wo kituukirire.

18 (J)“Naye ddala Katonda alituula n’abantu ku nsi? Laba, eggulu n’eggulu erisinga okuba erya waggulu toligyamu, kale ate olwo yeekaalu gye nzimbye gy’oyinza okugyamu? 19 Wuliriza okusaba kw’omuddu wo n’okwegayirira kwe, Ayi Mukama Katonda wange, owulire okusaba kw’omuddu wo kwasaba gy’oli. 20 (K)Amaaso go gatunuulirenga eyeekaalu eno emisana n’ekiro, ekifo kye wayogerako nti oliteeka omwo Erinnya lyo, era owulire okusaba kw’omuddu wo eri ekifo kino. 21 (L)Wulira kaakano okwegayirira kw’omuddu wo n’okw’abantu bo Isirayiri, bwe banaabanga basaba nga batunuulidde ekifo kino; owulirenga okuva mu kifo eyo gy’obeera, era bw’owuliranga, osonyiwenga.

22 (M)“Omuntu bw’anaayonoonanga ku muliraanwa we, ne kimugwanira okulayira, era n’ajja n’alayira mu maaso g’ekyoto mu yeekaalu eno, 23 (N)owulirenga okuva mu ggulu, obeeko ky’okola. Osalenga omusango wakati w’abaddu bo osasulenga gwe gusinze, ng’ebikolwa bye bwe bimusaanira. Oyatulenga atalina musango, era omusasulenga ng’obutuukirivu bwe, bwe bunaabanga.

24 (O)“Abantu bo Isirayiri bwe banaabanga bawanguddwa omulabe olw’obutali butuukirivu bwabwe, naye ne bakyuka ne baatula erinnya lyo, ne basaba ne beegayiririra mu maaso go mu yeekaalu eno, 25 kale owulirenga ng’osinziira mu ggulu, osonyiwe ekibi ky’abantu bo Isirayiri era obakomyewo mu nsi gye wabawa bo ne bajjajjaabwe.

26 (P)“Eggulu bwe linaggalwangawo ne wataba nkuba, kubanga boonoonye gy’oli, naye ne basaba nga batunuulidde ekifo kino, ne baatula erinnya lyo, ne bakyuka okuleka ekibi kyabwe ekibaweezesezza ekibonerezo, 27 (Q)kale owulirenga ng’osinziira mu ggulu, osonyiwe ekibi ky’abaddu bo, abantu bo Isirayiri, obayigirize ekkubo eggolokofu, lye bateekwa okutambulirangamu, era obaweereze enkuba ku nsi gye wawa abantu bo, obusika bwo.

28 (R)“Bwe wanaagwangawo enjala oba kawumpuli mu nsi, oba ne wabaawo okugengewala oba obukuku, oba enzige oba ebisaanyi, oba abalabe baabwe ne babazingiriza mu bibuga byabwe wadde ne bw’anaabanga kawumpuli ow’engeri etya, oba bulwadde bwa ngeri ki, 29 ne wabaawo okusaba oba okwegayirira okw’engeri zonna okukoleddwa omuntu yenna, oba abantu bo bonna Isirayiri, nga buli omu ategedde endwadde ye, n’obuyinike bwe, era ng’ayanjulurizza engalo ze eri yeekaalu eno, 30 (S)kale owulirenga ng’osinziira mu ggulu gy’obeera osonyiwe, era osasule buli muntu ng’ebikolwa bye bwe biri, kubanga ggwe wekka gw’omanyi emitima gy’abaana b’abantu; 31 (T)balyoke bakutyenga, era batambulirenga mu makubo go ennaku zonna ze banaabeeranga mu nsi gye wawa bajjajjaffe.

32 (U)“Era mu ngeri y’emu, bwe wanaabangawo munnaggwanga atali wa ku bantu bo Isirayiri, ng’ava mu nsi ey’ewala, olw’erinnya lyo ekkulu, n’olw’omukono gwo ogw’amaanyi, n’omukono gwo ogugoloddwa, bw’anajjanga n’asaba ng’atunuulidde eyeekaalu eno, 33 (V)kale owulirenga ng’osinziira mu ggulu gy’obeera, okolere omunnaggwanga oyo kyonna ky’anaakusabanga; abantu bonna ab’omu nsi balyoke bamanye erinnya lyo era bakutye, ng’abantu bo Isirayiri bwe bakola, era bategeere nti ennyumba eno gye nzimbye etuumiddwa Erinnya lyo.

34 (W)“Abantu bo bwe banaatabaalanga abalabe baabwe, yonna gy’onoobasindikanga, ne basaba nga batunuulidde ekibuga kino ky’olonze ne yeekaalu gye nzimbidde Erinnya lyo, 35 kale owulirenga okusaba kwabwe n’okwegayirira kwabwe, ng’osinziira mu ggulu, obaddiremu.

36 (X)“Bwe banaakolanga ebisobyo, kubanga tewaliwo muntu atasobya, n’obasunguwalira, n’obawaayo eri omulabe, ne batwalibwa nga basibe mu nsi ey’ewala oba ey’okumpi, 37 (Y)oluvannyuma ne beenenya mu mutima nga bali mu nsi gye bali abasibe, ne bakwegayiririra mu nsi ey’okusibibwa kwabwe nga boogera nti, ‘Twayonoona, twakola eby’obubambavu, era twagira ekyejo,’ 38 era bwe beenenyanga n’omutima gwabwe gwonna n’emmeeme yaabwe yonna mu nsi ey’okusibibwa kwabwe gye baatwalibwa, ne basaba nga batunuulidde ensi gye wawa bajjajjaabwe, n’eri ekibuga kye walonda, n’eri eyeekaalu gye nazimba ku lw’Erinnya lyo, 39 kale, owulirenga okusaba kwabwe n’okwegayirira kwabwe, ng’osinziira mu ggulu, ekifo gy’obeera obaddiremu, era osonyiwe abantu bo abakwonoonye.

40 (Z)“Kaakano Katonda wange, amaaso go gazibukenga, n’amatu go gawulirenga okusaba okunaaweerwangayo mu kifo kino.

41 (AA)“Era kaakano, Ayi Mukama Katonda golokoka, okke mu kifo kyo
    eky’okuwummulirangamu, ggwe n’essanduuko ey’amaanyi go.
Bakabona bo Ayi Mukama Katonda, bambazibwe obulokozi,
    era n’abatukuvu bo basanyukire obulungi bwo.
42 (AB)Ayi Mukama Katonda, tokyusa maaso go okuva ku oyo gwe wafukako amafuta.
    Ojjukire ekisa kye walaga Dawudi omuddu wo.”