1 Kings 3:16-28

The Voice

First Woman (indicating the other): ¹⁷ My lord, she and I live under the same roof. She was in the house when my child was born. ¹⁸ Three days after my child was born, she had her own child. She and I were alone in the house with our newborns. ¹⁹ One night her baby died because she lay on it during her sleep. ²⁰ She woke up, and after seeing her dead baby, she stole my baby out of my arms while I was sleeping and placed her dead baby in my arms. ²¹ When I woke up the next morning to feed my son, I found him dead. When I took a closer look at him, I saw that it was not the same child who came from my womb.

Second Woman: ²² She lies! My son is alive, and her son is dead!

First Woman: She lies! Her son is dead, and my son is alive!

Solomon: ²³ This woman says, “My son is alive, and your son is dead.” The other woman says, “My son is alive, and your son is dead.” ²⁴ Bring me a sword.

²⁵ (receiving a sword) Cut the living child in half, and give each woman one of the halves.

First Woman: Please don’t cut the child in half! Just give the whole child to her! Please do not kill him!

Second Woman: Nonsense! The child will belong to neither one of us! Cut him in half!

Solomon: ²⁷ The living child belongs to the first woman. Give the boy to her, and do not harm him. She is the true mother.