1 Kings 3:3-15
New American Standard Bible
3 Now (A)Solomon loved the Lord, (B)walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he was sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. 4 And (C)the king went to (D)Gibeon to sacrifice there, (E)because that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 (F)In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon (G)in a dream at night; and God said, “(H)Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
Solomon’s Prayer
6 Then Solomon said, “(I)You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, (J)according as he walked before You in [a]truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and (K)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, (L)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet (M)I am like a little boy; (N)I do not know how to [c]go out or come in. 8 And (O)Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, (P)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So (Q)give Your servant [d]an understanding heart to judge Your people, (R)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 (S)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, (T)I have done according to your words. Behold, (U)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 (V)I have also given you what you have not asked, both (W)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And (X)if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will (Y)prolong your days.”
15 Then (Z)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 (AA)held a feast for all his servants.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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 3:3-15
Christian Standard Bible
3 Solomon loved the Lord(A) by walking in the statutes of his father David,(B) but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4 The king went to Gibeon(C) to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.(D) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon(E) in a dream at night.(F) God said, “Ask.(G) What should I give you?”
6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity.[a] You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,(H) as it is today.(I)
7 “Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place.(J) Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.[b](K) 8 Your servant is among your people you have chosen,(L) a people too many to be numbered or counted.(M) 9 So give your servant a receptive heart to judge(N) your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” (O)
10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life[c] or riches for yourself,(P) or the death[d] of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice,(Q) 12 I will therefore do what you have asked.(R) I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.(S) 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,(T) so that no king will be your equal during your entire life.(U) 14 If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”(V)
15 Then Solomon woke up(W) and realized it had been a dream.(X) He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant,(Y) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(Z) Then he held a feast(AA) for all his servants.
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