⁷ He built the throne hall, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge,^(A) and he covered it with cedar from floor to ceiling.^[a](B)

²⁸ When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom^(A) from God to administer justice.

¹⁸ Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. ¹⁹ The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. ²⁰ Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.

¹⁵ He lined its interior walls with cedar boards, paneling them from the floor of the temple to the ceiling,^(A) and covered the floor of the temple with planks of juniper.^{(B) 16} He partitioned off twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.^(C)

³ The portico^(A) at the front of the main hall of the temple extended the width of the temple, that is twenty cubits,^[a] and projected ten cubits^[b] from the front of the temple.

⁹ So give your servant a discerning^(A) heart to govern your people and to distinguish^(B) between right and wrong. For who is able^(C) to govern this great people of yours?”