1 Kings 3:3-15

English Standard Version

³Solomon ^(A)loved the Lord, ^(B)walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. ⁴And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, ^(C)for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵^(D)At Gibeon ^(E)the Lord appeared to Solomon ^(F)in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” ⁶And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because ^(G)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 ^(H)have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. ⁷And now, O Lord my God, ^(I)you have made your servant king in place of David my father, ^(J)although I am but a little child. I do not know ^(K)how to go out or come in. ⁸^(L)And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, ^(M)too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹^(N)Give your servant therefore an understanding mind ^(O)to govern your people, that I may ^(P)discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

¹⁰It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹²behold, ^(Q)I now do according to your word. Behold, ^(R)I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ¹³^(S)I give you also what you have not asked, ^(T)both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. ¹⁴And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, ^(U)as your father David walked, then ^(V)I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵And Solomon ^(W)awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

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1 Kings 3:3-15

International Standard Version

³Solomon loved the Lord, and lived according to the statutes that his father David obeyed, except that he sacrificed and burned offerings at the high places. ⁴The king used to go to Gibeon to sacrifice, since there was a famous high place there, where Solomon once offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵The Lord appeared to Solomon one night in a dream and told him, “Ask me for whatever you want and I’ll give it to you.”

⁶So Solomon said:

“You have demonstrated abundant gracious love to your servant David, my father, as he lived in your presence truthfully, righteously, and uprightly in his heart. In addition, you have kept on showing this abundant gracious love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷Now, Lord my God, you have set me as king to replace my father David, but I’m still young. I don’t have any leadership skills.^[a] ⁸Your servant lives in the midst of your people that you have chosen, a great people that is too numerous to be counted. ⁹So give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I can discern between good and evil. Otherwise, how will I be able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, ¹¹so God told him:

“Because you asked for this, and you didn’t ask for a long life for yourself, and you didn’t ask for the lives of your enemies, but instead you’ve asked for discernment so you can understand how to govern, ¹²look how I’m going to do precisely what you asked. I’m giving you a wise and discerning mind, so that there will have been no one like you before you and no one will arise after you like you. ¹³I’m also giving you what you haven’t requested: both riches and honor, so that no other king will be comparable to you during your lifetime. ¹⁴If you will live life my way, keeping my statutes and my commands, just like your father David did, I’ll also increase the length of your life.”

¹⁵Then Solomon woke up and realized that he had dreamed a dream. Then he went back to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and threw a party for all of his servants.

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Footnotes

1 Kings 3:7 Lit. I’m only a youth and don’t know how to come and go

1 Kings 3:3-15

New International Version

³Solomon showed his love^(A) for the Lord by walking^(B) according to the instructions^(C) given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.^(D)

⁴The king went to Gibeon^(E) to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared^(F) to Solomon during the night in a dream,^(G) and God said, “Ask^(H) for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁶Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful^(I) to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son^(J) 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^(K) and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,^(L) a great people, too numerous to count or number.^(M) ⁹So give your servant a discerning^(N) heart to govern your people and to distinguish^(O) between right and wrong. For who is able^(P) to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹So God said to him, “Since you have asked^(Q) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment^(R) in administering justice, ¹²I will do what you have asked.^(S) I will give you a wise^(T) and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³Moreover, I will give you what you have not^(U) asked for—both wealth and honor^(V)—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal^(W) among kings. ¹⁴And if you walk^(X) in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”^(Y) ¹⁵Then Solomon awoke^(Z)—and he realized it had been a dream.^(AA)

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings^(AB) and fellowship offerings.^(AC) Then he gave a feast^(AD) for all his court.

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