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.

²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(A) Do not be arrogant,^(B) but tremble.^{(C) 21} For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness^(D) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(E) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^{(F) 23} And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^{(G) 24} After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(H) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant^(I) of this mystery,^(J) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(K) Israel has experienced a hardening^(L) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^(M)

⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God^(A) and give him glory,^(B) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made^(C) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”^(D)