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1 Kings 3:4-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 Kings 3:4-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, because that was the great high place. Upon its altar Solomon sacrificed a thousand burnt offerings. 5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said: Whatever you ask I shall give you. 6 Solomon answered: “You have shown great kindness to your servant, David my father, because he walked before you with fidelity, justice, and an upright heart; and you have continued this great kindness toward him today, giving him a son to sit upon his throne. 7 Now, Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed David my father; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act— 8 I, your servant, among the people you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request. 11 So God said to him: Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right— 12 I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you. 13 (A)In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days. 14 And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and commandments, as David your father did, I will give you a long life. 15 Solomon awoke; it was a dream! He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, sacrificed burnt offerings and communion offerings, and gave a feast for all his servants.
Solomon’s Listening Heart.[a]
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- 3:16–5:14 The fourth major unit of the Solomon story shows how Solomon used the three gifts that the Lord gave him in 3:12–13: a listening heart (3:16–28), riches (4:1–5:8), universal renown (5:9–14). In each case his gifts benefited the populace, from the lowest classes (3:16–28) to his whole people (4:20; 5:5) to the whole world (5:9–14). Compare 9:26–10:29, where the same three gifts all redound to the benefit of Solomon himself.
1 Kings 3:4-15
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Kings 3:4-15
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”
15 Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.
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1 Kings 3:4-15
New American Standard Bible
1 Kings 3:4-15
New American Standard Bible
4 And (A)the king went to (B)Gibeon to sacrifice there, (C)because that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 (D)In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon (E)in a dream at night; and God said, “(F)Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
Solomon’s Prayer
6 Then Solomon said, “(G)You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, (H)according as he walked before You in [a]truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and (I)You have [b]reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, Lord my God, (J)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet (K)I am like a little boy; (L)I do not know how to [c]go out or come in. 8 And (M)Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, (N)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So (O)give Your servant [d]an understanding heart to judge Your people, (P)to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this [e]great people of Yours?”
God’s Answer
10 Now [f]it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have (Q)not asked for yourself [g]a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, (R)I have done according to your words. Behold, (S)I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 (T)I have also given you what you have not asked, both (U)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And (V)if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will (W)prolong your days.”
15 Then (X)Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and (Y)held a feast for all his servants.
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- 1 Kings 3:6 Or faithfulness
- 1 Kings 3:6 Lit kept
- 1 Kings 3:7 I.e., conduct daily business
- 1 Kings 3:9 Or a heart that listens
- 1 Kings 3:9 Lit heavy
- 1 Kings 3:10 Lit the thing was
- 1 Kings 3:11 Lit many days
1 Kings 3:4-15
New International Version
1 Kings 3:4-15
New International Version
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.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
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