⁴ Now ^(A)the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, ^(B)for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ^5 (C)At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon ^(D)in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

^6 (E)And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he ^(F)walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You ^(G)have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷ Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a ^(H)little child; I do not know how ^(I)to go out or come in. ⁸ And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You ^(J)have chosen, a great people, ^(K)too numerous to be numbered or counted. ^9 (L)Therefore give to Your servant an ^[a]understanding heart ^(M)to judge Your people, that I may ^(N)discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

¹⁰ The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have ^(O)not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, ^12 (P)behold, I have done according to your words; ^(Q)see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. ¹³ And I have also ^(R)given you what you have not asked: both ^(S)riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.

The Excellence of Wisdom