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示巴女王來訪所羅門(A)

10 示巴女王聽到所羅門因耶和華的名所得的名聲,就來要用難題試試他。 她帶著大批隨員到耶路撒冷來,又有駱駝馱著香料、許多金子和寶石。她來到所羅門那裡,就把她心裡所有的難題都對他說出來。 所羅門把她所有的問題都給她解說明白,沒有一件事難倒王,使王不能回答她的。 示巴女王看見所羅門的一切智慧和他建造的宮殿、 桌上的食物、臣僕的座位、僕人的侍候、他們的服飾、王的酒政和王在耶和華的殿獻上的燔祭,就驚奇得不知所措。 於是她對王說:“我在本國聽見有關你的事和你的智慧,原來都是真的; 以前我並不相信那些話,等到我來了,親眼看見,才知道人告訴我的還不到一半;你的智慧和財富,超過我所聽聞的。 屬你的人是有福的,你的這些臣僕是有福的,他們常常侍立在你面前,聆聽你的智慧。 耶和華你的 神是應當稱頌的!他喜悅你,使你坐在以色列的王位上;因為耶和華永遠喜愛以色列,所以立你作王,要你秉行公義。”

示巴女王贈送的禮物(B)

10 於是示巴女王把約四千公斤金子、大批香料和寶石送給王;以後奉來的香料再也沒有像示巴女王送給所羅門的那麼多。 11 此外,從俄斐運金子來的希蘭船隊,又從俄斐運了大批檀香木和寶石來。 12 王用檀香木為耶和華的殿和王宮做欄杆,又為歌唱的做琴瑟。以後再也沒有這樣的檀香木運來,也沒有人看見過,直到今日。

所羅門的回禮(C)

13 所羅門王照著示巴女王所願所求的一切賜給她,另外又厚厚地餽贈她。於是女王和她的臣僕都返回本國去了。

所羅門的財富與智慧(D)

14 所羅門每年收入的金子重兩萬三千公斤。 15 另外,還有從商人和行商的課稅,阿拉伯諸王和國內省長的收入。 16 所羅門王用錘煉好的金子做了二百面大盾牌,每一面大盾牌用金子七公斤; 17 又用錘煉好的金子做了三百面小盾牌,每一面小盾牌用金子兩公斤。王把這些盾牌都放在黎巴嫩林宮。 18 王又做了一個象牙大寶座,貼上了精金。 19 那寶座有六級臺階,寶座的後背有一個圓頂,座處的兩旁有一個扶手。扶手的旁邊各有一隻獅子站立著。 20 在六級臺階上共有十二隻獅子站著,左邊一隻,右邊一隻。在列國中都沒有這樣做過。 21 所羅門的一切飲器都是金子做的;黎巴嫩林宮裡的一切器皿也都是精金做的,沒有用銀子做的;原來在所羅門王的時代,銀子算不得甚麼。 22 因為王有他施船隊與希蘭船隊一同在海上航行。他施船隊三年一次運來金銀、象牙、猿猴和孔雀。

23 所羅門王的財富和智慧,超過了世界上所有的君王。 24 世上所有的人都要求晉見所羅門,聆聽 神賦予他心中的智慧。 25 他們各人都帶著自己的貢物而來,就是銀器、金器、衣裳、軍械、香料、馬和騾等,年年都是這樣。

所羅門的兵力與財富(E)

26 所羅門聚集戰車和騎兵,他有戰車一千四百輛,騎兵一萬二千人,安置在屯車城和耶路撒冷,就是與王在一起。 27 王在耶路撒冷使銀子好像石頭一樣,使香柏木好像平原的桑樹那麼多。 28 所羅門的馬是從埃及和古厄運出來的,是王的商人從古厄按著定價買來的。 29 從埃及運上來的車,每輛銀子六千八百四十克,馬每匹一千七百一十克。赫人眾王和亞蘭(“亞蘭”即今天“敘利亞”一帶的地方)諸王也都是這樣經他們的手買來的。

10 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.

And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.

And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,

And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her.

And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.

Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.

Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

12 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.

13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

14 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

15 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

16 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.

17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

25 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

27 And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.

28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

The Queen of Sheba’s Praise of Solomon(A)

10 Now when the (B)queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came (C)to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great [a]retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing [b]so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, (D)and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. (E)Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! (F)Blessed be the Lord your God, who (G)delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, (H)to do justice and righteousness.”

10 Then she (I)gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 (J)Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of [c]almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. 12 (K)And the king made [d]steps of the almug wood for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such (L)almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.

13 Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

Solomon’s Great Wealth

14 The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, 15 besides that from the (M)traveling merchants, from the income of traders, (N)from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.

16 And King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield. 17 He also made (O)three hundred shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the (P)House of the Forest of Lebanon.

18 (Q)Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. 20 Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom.

21 (R)All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had (S)merchant[e] ships at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant (T)ships came bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and [f]monkeys. 23 So (U)King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

24 Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 25 Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.

26 (V)And Solomon (W)gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he [g]stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. 27 (X)The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.

28 (Y)Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price. 29 Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hundred and fifty; (Z)and [h]thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 10:2 company
  2. 1 Kings 10:3 too
  3. 1 Kings 10:11 algum, 2 Chr. 9:10, 11
  4. 1 Kings 10:12 Or supports
  5. 1 Kings 10:22 Lit. ships of Tarshish, deep-sea vessels
  6. 1 Kings 10:22 Or peacocks
  7. 1 Kings 10:26 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. (cf. 2 Chr. 9:25); MT led
  8. 1 Kings 10:29 Lit. by their hands

The Queen of Sheba

10 (A)Now when (B)the queen of (C)Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came (D)to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels (E)bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. (F)Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! (G)Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! (H)Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, (I)that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 10 (J)Then she gave the king 120 talents[a] of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 Moreover, (K)the fleet of Hiram, which brought (L)gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones. 12 And the king made of the almug wood supports for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, also lyres and harps for the singers. No such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.

13 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.

Solomon's Great Wealth

14 (M)Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 15 besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land. 16 King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels[b] of gold went into each shield. 17 And he made 300 (N)shields of beaten gold; three minas[c] of gold went into each shield. And the king put them in (O)the House of the Forest of Lebanon. 18 The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top,[d] and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, 20 while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom. 21 All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of (P)the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had (Q)a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.[e]

23 (R)Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 25 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh,[f] spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

26 (S)And Solomon gathered together (T)chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the (U)chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 27 And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as (V)the sycamore of the Shephelah. 28 And Solomon's (W)import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders received them from Kue at a price. 29 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver and a horse for 150, and so through the king's traders they were exported to all the kings of (X)the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 10:10 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
  2. 1 Kings 10:16 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  3. 1 Kings 10:17 A mina was about 1 1/4 pounds or 0.6 kilogram
  4. 1 Kings 10:19 Or and at the back of the throne was a calf's head
  5. 1 Kings 10:22 Or baboons
  6. 1 Kings 10:25 Or armor