¹⁰ Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried^(A) in the City of David.^{(B) 11} He had reigned^(C) forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. ¹² So Solomon sat on the throne^(D) of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.^(E)

³ Solomon showed his love^(A) for the Lord by walking^(B) according to the instructions^(C) given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.^(D)

⁴ The king went to Gibeon^(E) to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared^(F) to Solomon during the night in a dream,^(G) and God said, “Ask^(H) for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁶ Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful^(I) to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son^(J) to sit on his throne this very day.

⁷ “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child^(K) and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,^(L) a great people, too numerous to count or number.^{(M) 9} So give your servant a discerning^(N) heart to govern your people and to distinguish^(O) between right and wrong. For who is able^(P) to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Since you have asked^(Q) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment^(R) in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked.^(S) I will give you a wise^(T) and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³ Moreover, I will give you what you have not^(U) asked for—both wealth and honor^(V)—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal^(W) among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk^(X) in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”^(Y)

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

Psalm 111^[a]

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live^(A)—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity,^(B) because the days are evil.^{(C) 17} Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^{(D) 18} Do not get drunk on wine,^(E) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,^{(F) 19} speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.^(G) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks^(H) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵¹ I am the living bread^(A) that came down from heaven.^(B) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(C)

⁵² Then the Jews^(D) began to argue sharply among themselves,^(E) “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh^(F) of the Son of Man^(G) and drink his blood,^(H) you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.^{(I) 55} For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.^{(J) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(K) and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”^(L)