²⁰ In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.^(A)

Fame of Solomon’s Wisdom

²⁹ God gave Solomon very great wisdom, discernment, and breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore,^{(A) 30} so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.^{(B) 31} He was wiser than anyone else, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, children of Mahol; his fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations.^{(C) 32} He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.^{(D) 33} He would speak of trees, from the cedar that is in the Lebanon to the hyssop that grows in the wall; he would speak of animals, and birds, and reptiles, and fish. ³⁴ People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.^(E)

¹⁹ And the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said.^(A)

¹³ The decree was issued, and the wise men were about to be executed, and they looked for Daniel and his companions, to execute them.

¹² When the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, “From all the places where they live^[a] they will come up against us.”^[b]

²³ Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.^{(A) 24} The whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.^(B)