⁴ The king went to Gibeon^(A) 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^(B) to Solomon during the night in a dream,^(C) and God said, “Ask^(D) 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^(E) to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son^(F) 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^(G) and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸ Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,^(H) a great people, too numerous to count or number.^{(I) 9} So give your servant a discerning^(J) heart to govern your people and to distinguish^(K) between right and wrong. For who is able^(L) 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^(M) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment^(N) in administering justice, ¹² I will do what you have asked.^(O) I will give you a wise^(P) 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^(Q) asked for—both wealth and honor^(R)—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal^(S) among kings. ¹⁴ And if you walk^(T) in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”^{(U) 15} Then Solomon awoke^(V)—and he realized it had been a dream.^(W)

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings^(X) and fellowship offerings.^(Y) Then he gave a feast^(Z) for all his court.

מ Mem

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us^(C) in him before the creation of the world^(D) to be holy and blameless^(E) in his sight. In love^{(F) 5} he^[a] predestined^(G) us for adoption to sonship^[b](H) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(I) and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace,^(J) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^{(K) 7} In him we have redemption^(L) through his blood,^(M) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches^(N) of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[c] made known to us the mystery^(O) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(P) in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(Q)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(R)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[d] having been predestined^(S) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(T) of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^{(U) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(V) when you heard the message of truth,^(W) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(X) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(Y) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(Z) until the redemption^(AA) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(AB)

⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.^(A)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.^{(B) 42} When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed^(C) at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother^(D) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father^(E) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^{[a](F) 50} But they did not understand what he was saying to them.^(G)

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them^(H) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.^{(I) 52} And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.^(J)