Solomon’s Wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom(A) and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand(B) on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(C) and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(D) 31 He was wiser(E) than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs(F) and his songs(G) numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop(H) that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings(I) of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:34 In Hebrew texts 4:21-34 is numbered 5:1-14.

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