1
Ndipo Hiramu, mfalme wa Tiro, akawatuma watumishi wake kwa Sulemani; kwani alikuwa amesikia ya kwamba wamemtia mafuta awe mfalme mahali pa baba yake. Kwa maana Hiramu alikuwa akimpenda Daudi siku zote.
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.
2
Basi Sulemani akatuma watu kwa Hiramu, akasema,
And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram:
3
Umemjua Daudi baba yangu jinsi asivyoweza kujenga nyumba kwa jina la Bwana, Mungu wake, kwa sababu ya vita vilivyomzunguka pande zote, hata Bwana alipowatia watu chini ya nyayo zake.
“As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet.
4
Ila leo Bwana, Mungu wangu, amenipa amani kila upande; hakuna adui, wala tukio baya.
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis.
5
Nami, tazama, nakusudia kujenga nyumba kwa jina la Bwana, Mungu wangu, kama Bwana alivyomwambia Daudi baba yangu, akisema, Mwana wako, nitakayemweka katika kiti chake cha enzi mahali pako, ndiye atakayeijenga nyumba kwa jina langu.
So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’
6
Basi uamuru wanikatie mierezi ya Lebanoni; na watumishi wangu watafuatana na watumishi wako; na ujira wa watumishi wako nitakupa kama utakavyosema; kwa kuwa wajua ya kwamba hakuna kwetu mtu ajuaye kukata miti kama Wasidoni.
Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.”
7
Ikawa, Hiramu aliposikia maneno yake Sulemani, alifurahi sana, akasema, Na ahimidiwe Bwana leo, aliyempa Daudi mwana mwenye akili juu ya watu hawa walio wengi.
When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”
8
Hiramu akatuma watu kwa Sulemani, akasema, Nimeyasikia yale uliyoniletea; nami nitafanya kila ulitakalo katika habari ya miti ya mierezi, na miti ya miberoshi.
Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber.
9
Watumishi wangu wataishusha toka Lebanoni mpaka baharini; nami nitaiendesha baharini, ikifungwa pamoja, mpaka mahali utakaponiagiza, huko nitaifungua ili wewe uichukue; ndivyo utakavyoitimiza haja yangu, ukiwapa chakula watu wa nyumbani mwangu.
My servants will haul the logs from Lebanon to the Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate the logs, and you can take them away. And in exchange, you can meet my needs by providing my household with food.”
10
Basi Hiramu akampa Sulemani miti ya mierezi na miti ya miberoshi kadiri alivyotaka.
So Hiram provided Solomon with all the cedar and cypress timber he wanted,
11
Sulemani akampa Hiramu kori ishirini elfu za ngano, chakula cha watu wake, na kori ishirini za mafuta safi. Ndizo Sulemani alizompa Hiramu mwaka kwa mwaka.
and year after year Solomon would provide Hiram with 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.
12
Bwana akampa Sulemani hekima, kama alivyomwahidia. Ikawa amani kati yao Hiramu na Sulemani; wakafanyana maagano pamoja hao wawili.
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13
Mfalme Sulemani akafanya shokoa ya Israeli wote; nayo shokoa hiyo ilikuwa ya watu thelathini elfu.
Then King Solomon conscripted a labor force of 30,000 men from all Israel.
14
Akawatuma Lebanoni kwa mwezi, elfu kumi kwa zamu. Mwezi mmoja walikuwako huko Lebanoni, na miezi miwili wakawako kwao. Na Adoramu alikuwa juu ya shokoa.
He sent them to Lebanon in monthly shifts of 10,000 men, so that they would spend one month in Lebanon and two months at home. And Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.
15
Sulemani alikuwa na wachukua mizigo sabini elfu, na wakatao miti themanini elfu milimani;
Solomon had 70,000 porters and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains,
16
mbali na maakida yake Sulemani waliokuwa juu ya kazi, elfu tatu na mia tatu, wasimamizi wa watu waliotenda kazi.
not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.
17
Mfalme akaamuru, nao wakaleta mawe makubwa, mawe ya thamani, ili wauweke msingi wa nyumba kwa mawe yaliyochongwa.
And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones.
18
Na waashi wa Sulemani na waashi wa Hiramu na Wagebali wakayachonga, wakaweka tayari miti na mawe ya kuijenga nyumba. </p>
So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.