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.