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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
Good News Translation
1 Kings 3:4-15
Good News Translation
4 (A)On one occasion he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices because that was where the most famous altar was. He had offered hundreds of burnt offerings there in the past. 5 That night the Lord appeared to him in a dream and asked him, “What would you like me to give you?”
6 Solomon answered, “You always showed great love for my father David, your servant, and he was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. And you have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place. 7 O Lord God, you have let me succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and don't know how to rule. 8 Here I am among the people you have chosen to be your own, a people who are so many that they cannot be counted. 9 So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, 11 and so he said to him, “Because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly, instead of long life for yourself or riches or the death of your enemies, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had before or will ever have again. 13 I will also give you what you have not asked for: all your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king. 14 And if you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
15 Solomon woke up and realized that God had spoken to him in the dream. Then he went to Jerusalem and stood in front of the Lord's Covenant Box and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. After that he gave a feast for all his officials.
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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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Good News Translation (GNT) 
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New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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