29 Now (A)God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of [a]mind, (B)like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all (C)the [b]people of the east and (D)all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For (E)he was wiser than all other people, more than (F)Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, (G)Calcol, and [c]Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his [d]fame was known in all the surrounding nations. 32 (H)He also told three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005. 33 He told of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he told also of animals, birds, crawling things, and fish. 34 People (I)came from all the [e]nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:29 Lit heart
  2. 1 Kings 4:30 Lit sons
  3. 1 Kings 4:31 In 1 Chr 2:6, Dara
  4. 1 Kings 4:31 Lit name
  5. 1 Kings 4:34 Lit peoples

Solomon’s Wisdom and Literary Gifts

29 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding(A) as vast as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(B) greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(C) 31 He was wiser than anyone(D)—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite,(E) and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol.(F) His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.(G)

32 Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs,(H) and his songs numbered 1,005.(I) 33 He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 Emissaries of all peoples, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.(J)

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