Kambeŋ Kunewo naata ka ke Alla Batudulaa Buŋo kono
(2 Taarika 5:2—6:2)1 Bituŋ Mansa Sulemani ye Banisirayila alifaalu kumandi, aniŋ lasili kuntiyolu bee, aniŋ Banisirayilankoolu la kaabiila ñaatonkoolu, ka naa loo a ñaatiliŋo la Yerusalaamu kono, ka Yaawe* la Kambeŋ Kunewo* samba naŋ ka bo Siyoni*, Dawuda la Saatewo* to. 2 Banisirayila moolu bee benta Sulemani yaa juuraloo waatoo la Etanimu karoo kono, meŋ mu kari woorowulanjaŋo ti.
3 Kabiriŋ Banisirayila alifaalu bee naata, piriisoolu* ye Yaawe la Kambeŋ Kunewo sika, 4 ì ye a samba naŋ, aniŋ bendulaa tiriliisoo* niŋ jooraŋ senuŋolu mennu bee be a kono. Piriisoolu niŋ Lewi lasiloo le ye ì samba naŋ. 5 Mansa Sulemani aniŋ Banisirayila jamaa bee, mennu ye a muru, tarata Kambeŋ Kunewo ñaatiliŋo la. Ì ye saajii jamaa baa le bo sadaa* ti, aniŋ ninsoolu mennu te yaatee noo la.
6 Wo to le piriisoolu ye Yaawe la Kambeŋ Kunewo samba naŋ a loodulaa to konoto buŋo to, daameŋ mu Dulaa Senuŋ Baa* ti, Alla Batudulaa Buŋo* kono, ì ye a londi kerubu malaayikoolu* dampaŋolu koto. 7 Kerubu malaayikoolu dampaŋolu tarata wankariŋ Kambeŋ Kunewo kunto le ka kunewo ñiŋ niŋ a sambaraŋ dokoolu kunto bee muuri. 8 Ñiŋ dokoolu jaŋayaata baake le fo ì neŋolu ka je noo Dulaa Senuŋo kono meŋ be Dulaa Senuŋ Baa ñaatiliŋo la, bari ì buka je noo banta la, aduŋ hani ka naa bula bii la ì be jee le. 9 Feŋ te nuŋ Kambeŋ Kunewo kono niŋ a maŋ ke berewalaa fuloo ti. Musa ye ì ke jee Horebu konkoo le to, Yaawe ye kambeŋo siti a niŋ Banisirayilankoolu teema daameŋ to, kabiriŋ ì fintita Misira bankoo kaŋ.
10 Kabiriŋ piriisoolu fintita naŋ Dulaa Senuŋo kono, tawaloo ye Yaawe Batudulaa Buŋo kono fandi. 11 A ye a tinna piriisoolu maŋ ì la baturoo ke noo tawaloo ñiŋ kamma la, kaatu Yaawe la kallankeeyaa* le ye Batudulaa Buŋo fandi.
12 Bituŋ Sulemani ko, “Yaawe, i ye ñiŋ ne fo ko ite be tara la tawali dibiriŋo le kono. 13 Ŋa horoma buŋ ñiimaa le loo i ye, ka ke i ye taradulaa ti fo abadaa.”
Sulemani diyaamuta moolu ye
(2 Taarika 6:3-11)14 Bituŋ mansa ye a ñaa tiliŋ Banisirayila jamaa moo bee la mennu be looriŋ jee, a ye neemoo duwaa ì ye. 15 Bituŋ a ko:
“Tentoo be Yaawe ye Banisirayila la Alla, ate meŋ ye kuwo timmandi niŋ a semboo la, a ye meŋ laahidi m faamaa Dawuda ye. Kaatu a ye ñiŋ ne fo ko, 16 ‘Ka bo luŋo meŋ na ŋa n na moolu Banisirayilankoolu fintindi naŋ Misira kono, m maŋ saatewo tomboŋ Banisirayila lasili kiliŋ na tundoo kaŋ ka m Batudulaa Buŋo loo, n too ye tara jee, bari ŋa Dawuda le tomboŋ ka n na moolu, Banisirayilankoolu mara.’ ”
17 Mansa tententa ka a fo ko:
“M faamaa Dawuda ye ñiŋ ne ŋaniya nuŋ ka buŋo loo Yaawe tooyaa la, Banisirayila la Alla. 18 Bari Yaawe ko m faamaa Dawuda ye le ko, ‘I ye kuu kende le ke ka ñiŋ miiroo soto ka buŋo loo n tooyaa la. 19 Wo ñaa-wo-ñaa ite te buŋo ñiŋ loo la, bari i dinkewo, i faŋo ye meŋ wuluu wo le be buŋo loo la n tooyaa la.’
20 “Yaawe ye laahidoo timmandi le a ye meŋ dii. Ŋa m faamaa Dawuda noo taa le, aduŋ saayiŋ n siita Banisirayila mansasiiraŋo kaŋ ne, komeŋ Yaawe ye a laahidi ñaameŋ, aduŋ ŋa buŋo loo Yaawe tooyaa la le, Banisirayila la Alla. 21 Ŋa dulaa ke Kambeŋ Kunewo ye jee le, Kambeŋ Kunewo, berewalaa fula be meŋ kono. Ñinnu ka kambeŋo la kuwo le seedeyaa, Yaawe ye meŋ siti a niŋ m̀ mumuñolu teema, kabiriŋ a ye ì bondi naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ.”
Sulemani la duwaa Alla Batudulaa Buŋo to
(2 Taarika 6:12-42)22 Bituŋ Sulemani loota Yaawe la sadaajanidulaa* ñaatiliŋo la Banisirayila kafoo bee ñaato, aduŋ a ye a buloolu wulindi ka ì tiliŋ santo. 23 A ko:
“M Maarii Yaawe, Banisirayila la Alla, Alla koteŋ maŋ soto ko ite, saŋo santo waraŋ duniyaa bankoo kaŋ duuma. Ite ka kambeŋo niŋ kanu bambaloo muta moolu ye le mennu sonta i ye, aniŋ ì ka taama i la siloo la niŋ ì sondomoo bee la. 24 I ye i la laahidoo timmandi m faamaa Dawuda ye le, i la dookuulaa. I ye laahidoo taa le, aduŋ i ye a timmandi niŋ i semboo le la bii. 25 Wo to saayiŋ Yaawe, Banisirayila la Alla, i la laahidoo timmandi m faamaa Dawuda ye, i la dookuulaa, i ye meŋ dii a la nuŋ, kabiriŋ i ko a ye ko, ‘Niŋ a ye a tara i koomalankoolu ye ì hakiloo tu ì kekuwolu bee to, ka taama n na siloo la ko ite ye a ke ñaameŋ, wo to i te foo la moo la meŋ be sii la n ñaa koto Banisirayila mansasiiraŋo kaŋ.’ 26 Wo to saayiŋ, ite meŋ mu Banisirayila la Alla ti, i la kumoo timmandi i ye meŋ laahidi m faamaa Dawuda ye, i la dookuulaa.
27 “Bari fo tooñaa Alla si tara noo sabatiriŋ duniyaa kono baŋ? Hani saŋ fatoolu daŋo to ite te kuŋ na wo to, sako ñiŋ buŋo nte ŋa meŋ loo. 28 Bari hani wo, Yaawe n na Alla, i lamoyi i la dookuulaa la duwaa la, aniŋ a la daaniroo. I lamoyi woosiyo la, aniŋ duwaa, i la dookuulaa be meŋ ke kaŋ i ñaatiliŋo la bii. 29 Ŋa ñiŋ ne duwaa fo i ñaa si tara looriŋ ñiŋ buŋo kaŋ suutoo niŋ tiloo, kaatu i ye ñiŋ ne fo ñiŋ dulaa la kuwo to ko, ‘N too be tara la jee le.’ Wo kamma la i si i la dookuulaa la duwaa moyi a be meŋ duwaa la ñiŋ dulaa ñaatiliŋo la. 30 I la dookuulaa la woosiyo moyi, aniŋ Banisirayilankoolu fanaa, i la moolu, niŋ ì be duwaa kaŋ ñiŋ dulaa ñaatiliŋo la. I lamoyi ka bo Arijana kono, i taradulaa, aduŋ niŋ i ye moyiri ke, yamfa ǹ ye.
31 “Niŋ moo ye kuu kuruŋo ke a mooñoo la, aduŋ a ñanta ka kalindi, niŋ a naata i la ñiŋ buŋo to, a ye i kali i la sadaajanidulaa ñaatiliŋo la, 32 i si i lamoyi ka bo Arijana kono, i si kuu ke. I si kiitiyo teyi i la dookuulaalu teema, ka kuu kuruŋ kelaa jalayi, aniŋ ka a la baara kuwo laa a faŋo kuŋo to. Bari meŋ maŋ kuu kuruŋo ke i si wo koyindi, aduŋ ì si a yitandi ko a maŋ kuu kuruŋ ke.
33 “A si ke noo i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu jawoo fanaa si ì noo keloo la, kaatu ì ye junube kuwo le ke i la. Niŋ ì muruta i kaŋ ka i too kumandi, ka duwaa aniŋ ka i daani ñiŋ buŋo kono, 34 i si i lamoyi ka bo Arijana kono. I si yamfa i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu la junuboolu la, i ye ì murundi naŋ bankoo kaŋ i ye meŋ dii ì mumuñolu la.
35 “I si saŋ fatoolu soroŋ noo le, sanji te soto la, kaatu i la moolu ye junube kuwo le ke i la. Ì si duwaa ñiŋ dulaa ñaatiliŋo la ka i too kumandi, aduŋ ì si tuubi ì la junuboolu la, kaatu i ye mantooroo le laa ì kaŋ. 36 Bituŋ i si i lamoyi ka bo Arijana kono, aduŋ i si yamfa i la dookuulaalu la junuboo la, i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu. I si ì karandi ka taama kuu kendoo la, aduŋ i si sanjoo jindi naŋ bankoo kaŋ i ye meŋ dii i la moolu la ka ke ì la keetaafeŋo ti.
37 “A si ke noo konko baa waraŋ alibalaa kuuraŋo ye boyi bankoo kaŋ. Fiifeŋolu si jaa noo waraŋ kuuraŋo ye boyi ì kaŋ. Kuntiŋolu waraŋ tumbu koteŋolu si naa noo le ka ì domo. I la moolu jawoolu si daakaa loo noo ì kamma ì la saatee-wo-saatee to le. Kasaara kuwo waraŋ kuuraŋ siifaa-wo-siifaa si naa noo le. 38 Niŋ i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu bee waraŋ moo kiliŋ ye i daani ka balafaa a ye, i si i lamoyi. Niŋ a maarii ye a buloo wulindi ka a tiliŋ buŋo la, ka duwaa kaatu a ye a la bataa kuwo kalamuta le, aniŋ a la tooroo, 39 i si i lamoyi ka bo Arijana kono, i taradulaa. I si yamfa, aduŋ i si kuu ke. I si moo-wo-moo kuluu a la baaroo la, kaatu i ye a loŋ ne a sondomoo be ñaameŋ, aduŋ ite doroŋ ne ye moo bee sondomoo kono loŋ. 40 Niŋ wo keta ì si sila i la, ì siyo daŋo bee la, ñiŋ bankoo kaŋ i ye meŋ dii m̀ mumuñolu la.
41 “Luntaŋo si naa noo le, meŋ maŋ bo i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu kono, ka bo naŋ banku koteŋ kaŋ i too la kuwo kamma la. 42 Kaatu moo koteŋolu be i too la kuwo moyi la le aniŋ i sembe baa niŋ i ye kuu baalu mennu ke. Wo luntaŋo meŋ naata ka duwaa ñiŋ buŋo ñaatiliŋo la, 43 i si i lamoyi a la ka bo Arijana kono, i taradulaa. Luntaŋo ñiŋ ye kuu-wo-kuu daani i si a ke. Niŋ wo keta duniyaa moolu bee si i too loŋ. Ì si sila i la, komeŋ i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu, aniŋ fanaa ì si a loŋ ko, ŋa ñiŋ buŋo meŋ loo i too le be a kunna.
44 “I la moolu si finti noo le ka taa ì jawoolu kele daa-wo-daa i la yaamaroo kaŋ. Niŋ ì duwaata ka ite Yaawe daani, ì ye ì ñaa tiliŋ saatewo la, i ye meŋ tomboŋ, aniŋ ñiŋ buŋo ŋa meŋ loo i tooyaa la, 45 i si i lamoyi ì la duwaa la, aniŋ ì la woosiyo, aduŋ i si makatoo bayi ì ye.
46 “Ì si junuboo ke noo i la, kaatu moo te keriŋ meŋ buka junuboo ke. I kamfaatoo si ì duŋ noo ì jawoolu bulu. Ì jawoo si ì muta noo le ka ì samba a faŋo la bankoo kaŋ, fo dulaa sutuŋ waraŋ dulaa jaŋ. 47 Ì be mutoo kono tuma meŋ, a si ke noo ì hakiloo ye naa yelema, ì ye tuubi ka i daani ko, ‘Ŋà junube kuwo le ke. Ŋà kuu kuruŋo le ke. Ŋà kuu jawu baa le ke.’ 48 Ì si muru noo i kaŋ ì sondomoo niŋ ì niyo bee la, ì ye ì samba mutoo kono daameŋ. Niŋ ì duwaata, ì ye ì ñaa tiliŋ ì la bankoo la, i ye meŋ dii ì mumuñolu la, aniŋ saatewo la, i ye meŋ tomboŋ aniŋ ŋa buŋo meŋ loo i tooyaa la, 49 i si i lamoyi ka bo Arijana kono, i taradulaa. I si ì la moolu la balafaa woosiyo moyi, i ye ì la makatoo bayi ì ye, 50 i ye yamfa ì ye junuboo la, ì ye meŋ ke i la. I si yamfa ì la luwaa tiñaalu bee la ì ye mennu ke i la, aduŋ i si a tinna fo ì mutalaalu ye balafaa soto ì ye, 51 kaatu i la moolu le mu, i faŋo ye mennu ke i taa ti. I ye ì bondi naŋ Misira kono le, daameŋ to ì tarata nuŋ mantoora jawu baa kono.
52 “I si i lamoyi i la dookuulaa la woosiyo la, aniŋ i la moolu Banisirayilankoolu fanaa la woosiyo, niŋ ì ye i too kumandi, 53 kaatu ite faŋo le ye ì tomboŋ ka ì bondi duniyaa moolu kono, ka ì ke i fansuŋ moolu ti, ko i ye a bankee ñaameŋ ka bo niŋ i la dookuulaa Musa la kabiriŋ ite, m Maarii Yaawe ye m̀ mumuñolu bondi naŋ Misira kono.”
Duwaa labaŋo
54 Kabiriŋ Sulemani pareeta ñiŋ duwaalu niŋ daaniroolu la Yaawe bulu, a wulita ka bo Yaawe la sadaajanidulaa ñaatiliŋo la, a tarata sujudiriŋ nuŋ daameŋ to a ye a buloolu wulindi ka ì tiliŋ santo. 55 A loota, aduŋ a sarita a ye neemoo duwaa Banisirayila kafoo bee ye:
56 “Tentoo be Yaawe ye, meŋ ye dahaa dii a la moolu Banisirayilankoolu la, ko a ye a laahidi ñaameŋ. Hani kuma kiliŋ maŋ boyi a la laahidi kendoolu kono, a ye mennu dii ǹ na ka bo niŋ a la dookuulaa Musa la. 57 Allamaa Yaawe ǹ na Alla ye tara m̀ fee, ko a tarata m̀ mumuñolu fee nuŋ ñaameŋ. Allamaa a nene kana bo ǹ koto sako ka m̀ bula m̀ faŋ ye. 58 Allamaa a ye ǹ sondomoolu yelemandi ka ì londi a faŋo kaŋ, ñiŋ kamma la ǹ si taama a la siloolu bee la, ka a la yaamaroolu muta, a la karandiroolu, aniŋ a la luwaalu, a ye mennu dii m̀ mumuñolu la. 59 Allamaa n na ñiŋ kumoolu, ŋa mennu duwaa Yaawe ñaatiliŋo la, ye tara Yaawe ǹ na Alla fee suutoo niŋ tiloo, ñiŋ kamma la a si a la dookuulaa la kuwo muta, aniŋ Banisirayila la kuwo niŋ a suuloo wulita luŋ-wo-luŋ. 60 Wo kamma la duniyaa moolu bee si a loŋ ko, Yaawe le mu Alla ti, alla koteŋ te keriŋ. 61 Bari ali ñanta ali sondomoo bee loo la Yaawe ǹ na Alla le kaŋ ka a la luwaalu muta aniŋ ka soŋ a la yaamaroolu ma, ko ali be a ke kaŋ ñaameŋ bii.”
Alla Batudulaa Buŋo kerekeroo
(2 Taarika 7:4-10)62 Bituŋ mansa niŋ Banisirayila bee kafuriŋo ye sadaa bo Yaawe ñaatiliŋo la. 63 Sulemani ye kayira sabatindiraŋ sadaalu bondi Yaawe ye meŋ kaañanta ninsi wuli muwaŋ niŋ fula fee, aniŋ saajii wuli keme saajii wuli muwaŋ. Bituŋ mansa niŋ Banisirayilankoolu bee ye Batudulaa Buŋo kerekere Yaawe ye.
64 Wo luŋo faŋo la, mansa ye luwo teema kerekere meŋ be Yaawe Batudulaa Buŋo ñaatiliŋo la. Jee le to, a ye jani sadaalu bondi, siimaŋ sadaalu, aniŋ kayira sabatindiraŋ sadaalu keŋo. A ye ñiŋ ke le, kaatu jaawali sadaajanidulaa meŋ tarata Yaawe ye jee, wo dooyaata baake le ka ñiŋ sadaalu bo a kaŋ.
65 Bituŋ Sulemani ye wo waatoo juuraloo ke, a niŋ Banisirayilankoolu bee. Kafu baa naata ka bo naŋ fo Lebo-Hamati aniŋ ka bo fo Misira Wulumbaŋo to. Ì ye juuraloo ke Yaawe ǹ na Alla ñaatiliŋo la fo tili woorowula aniŋ tili woorowula koteŋ, meŋ kafuriŋo mu tili taŋ niŋ naani ti. 66 Wo saamoo a ye moolu bula ka seyi. Ì ye mansa tentu, ì seyita suwo kono ì seewooriŋ baa, aduŋ ì jusulaata kuu kendoolu bee la, Yaawe ye mennu ke a la dookuulaa Dawuda ye, aniŋ a la moolu Banisirayilankoolu.
The Covenant Box Is Brought to the Temple
(2 Chronicles 5.2—6.2)1 Then King Solomon summoned all the leaders of the tribes and clans of Israel to come to him in Jerusalem in order to take the Lord's Covenant Box from Zion, David's City, to the Temple. 2 They all assembled during the Festival of Shelters in the seventh month, in the month of Ethanim. 3 When all the leaders had gathered, the priests lifted the Covenant Box 4 and carried it to the Temple. The Levites and the priests also moved the Tent of the Lord's presence and all its equipment to the Temple. 5 King Solomon and all the people of Israel assembled in front of the Covenant Box and sacrificed a large number of sheep and cattle—too many to count. 6 Then the priests carried the Covenant Box into the Temple and put it in the Most Holy Place, beneath the winged creatures. 7 Their outstretched wings covered the box and the poles it was carried by. 8 The ends of the poles could be seen by anyone standing directly in front of the Most Holy Place, but from nowhere else. (The poles are still there today.) 9 There was nothing inside the Covenant Box except the two stone tablets which Moses had placed there at Mount Sinai, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were coming from Egypt.
10 As the priests were leaving the Temple, it was suddenly filled with a cloud 11 shining with the dazzling light of the Lord's presence, and they could not go back in to perform their duties. 12 Then Solomon prayed:
“You, Lord, have placed the sun in the sky,
yet you have chosen to live in clouds and darkness.
13 Now I have built a majestic temple for you,
a place for you to live in forever.”
Solomon's Address to the People
(2 Chronicles 6.3-11)14 As the people stood there, King Solomon turned to face them, and he asked God's blessing on them. 15 He said, “Praise the Lord God of Israel! He has kept the promise he made to my father David, when he told him, 16 ‘From the time I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen any city in all the land of Israel in which a temple should be built where I would be worshiped. But I chose you, David, to rule my people.’”
17 And Solomon continued, “My father David planned to build a temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel, 18 but the Lord said to him, ‘You were right in wanting to build a temple for me, 19 but you will never build it. It is your son, your own son, who will build my temple.’
20 “And now the Lord has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built the Temple for the worship of the Lord God of Israel. 21 I have also provided a place in the Temple for the Covenant Box containing the stone tablets of the covenant which the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”
Solomon's Prayer
(2 Chronicles 6.12-42)22 Then in the presence of the people Solomon went and stood in front of the altar, where he raised his arms 23 and prayed, “Lord God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You keep your covenant with your people and show them your love when they live in wholehearted obedience to you. 24 You have kept the promise you made to my father David; today every word has been fulfilled. 25 And now, Lord God of Israel, I pray that you will also keep the other promise you made to my father when you told him that there would always be one of his descendants ruling as king of Israel, provided they obeyed you as carefully as he did. 26 So now, O God of Israel, let everything come true that you promised to my father David, your servant.
27 “But can you, O God, really live on earth? Not even all of heaven is large enough to hold you, so how can this Temple that I have built be large enough? 28 Lord my God, I am your servant. Listen to my prayer, and grant the requests I make to you today. 29 Watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have chosen to be worshiped. Hear me when I face this Temple and pray. 30 Hear my prayers and the prayers of your people when they face this place and pray. In your home in heaven hear us and forgive us.
31 “When a person is accused of wronging another and is brought to your altar in this Temple to take an oath that he is innocent, 32 O Lord, listen in heaven and judge your servants. Punish the guilty one as he deserves, and acquit the one who is innocent.
33 “When your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and then when they turn to you and come to this Temple, humbly praying to you for forgiveness, 34 listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of your people and bring them back to the land which you gave to their ancestors.
35 “When you hold back the rain because your people have sinned against you, and then when they repent and face this Temple, humbly praying to you, 36 listen to them in heaven. Forgive the sins of the king and of the people of Israel, and teach them to do what is right. Then, O Lord, send rain on this land of yours, which you gave to your people as a permanent possession.
37 “When there is famine in the land or an epidemic or the crops are destroyed by scorching winds or swarms of locusts, or when your people are attacked by their enemies, or when there is disease or sickness among them, 38 listen to their prayers. If any of your people Israel, out of heartfelt sorrow, stretch out their hands in prayer toward this Temple, 39 hear their prayer. Listen to them in your home in heaven, forgive them, and help them. You alone know the thoughts of the human heart. Deal with each person as he deserves, 40 so that your people may obey you all the time they live in the land which you gave to our ancestors.
41-42 “When a foreigner who lives in a distant land hears of your fame and of the great things you have done for your people and comes to worship you and to pray at this Temple, 43 listen to his prayer. In heaven, where you live, hear him and do what he asks you to do, so that all the peoples of the world may know you and obey you, as your people Israel do. Then they will know that this Temple I have built is the place where you are to be worshiped.
44 “When you command your people to go into battle against their enemies and they pray to you, wherever they are, facing this city which you have chosen and this Temple which I have built for you, 45 listen to their prayers. Hear them in heaven and give them victory.
46 “When your people sin against you—and there is no one who does not sin—and in your anger you let their enemies defeat them and take them as prisoners to some other land, even if that land is far away, 47 listen to your people's prayers. If there in that land they repent and pray to you, confessing how sinful and wicked they have been, hear their prayers, O Lord. 48 If in that land they truly and sincerely repent and pray to you as they face toward this land which you gave to our ancestors, this city which you have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for you, 49 then listen to their prayers. In your home in heaven hear them and be merciful to them. 50 Forgive all their sins and their rebellion against you, and make their enemies treat them with kindness. 51 They are your own people, whom you brought out of Egypt, that blazing furnace.
52 “Sovereign Lord, may you always look with favor on your people Israel and their king, and hear their prayer whenever they call to you for help. 53 You chose them from all the peoples to be your own people, as you told them through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.”
The Final Prayer
54 After Solomon had finished praying to the Lord, he stood up in front of the altar, where he had been kneeling with uplifted hands. 55 In a loud voice he asked God's blessings on all the people assembled there. He said, 56 “Praise the Lord who has given his people peace, as he promised he would. He has kept all the generous promises he made through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us; 58 may he make us obedient to him, so that we will always live as he wants us to live, keeping all the laws and commands he gave our ancestors. 59 May the Lord our God remember at all times this prayer and these petitions I have made to him. May he always be merciful to the people of Israel and to their king, according to their daily needs. 60 And so all the nations of the world will know that the Lord alone is God—there is no other. 61 May you, his people, always be faithful to the Lord our God, obeying all his laws and commands as you do today.”
The Dedication of the Temple
(2 Chronicles 7.4-10)62 Then King Solomon and all the people there offered sacrifices to the Lord. 63 He sacrificed 22,000 head of cattle and 120,000 sheep as fellowship offerings. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple. 64 That same day he also consecrated the central part of the courtyard, the area in front of the Temple, and then he offered there the sacrifices burned whole, the grain offerings, and the fat of the animals for the fellowship offerings. He did this because the bronze altar was too small for all these offerings.
65 There at the Temple, Solomon and all the people of Israel celebrated the Festival of Shelters for seven days. There was a huge crowd of people from as far away as Hamath Pass in the north and the Egyptian border in the south. 66 On the eighth day Solomon sent the people home. They all praised him and went home happy because of all the blessings that the Lord had given his servant David and his people Israel.
