1 Kings 3:3-10

New King James Version

³And Solomon ^(A)loved the Lord, ^(B)walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.

⁴Now ^(C)the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, ^(D)for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵^(E)At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon ^(F)in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

⁶^(G)And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he ^(H)walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You ^(I)have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a ^(J)little child; I do not know how ^(K)to go out or come in. ⁸And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You ^(L)have chosen, a great people, ^(M)too numerous to be numbered or counted. ⁹^(N)Therefore give to Your servant an ^[a]understanding heart ^(O)to judge Your people, that I may ^(P)discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

¹⁰The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

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Footnotes

1 Kings 3:9 Lit. hearing

1 Kings 3:3-10

New International Version

³Solomon 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)

⁴The 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. ⁵At 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.”

⁶Solomon 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. ⁸Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,^(L) a great people, too numerous to count or number.^(M) ⁹So 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?”