^7 (A)On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

⁸ And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great ^(B)mercy to David my father, and have made me ^(C)king in his place. ⁹ Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, ^(D)for You have made me king over a people like the ^(E)dust of the earth in multitude. ^10 (F)Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may ^(G)go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

^11 (H)Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— ¹² wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as ^(I)none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

Solomon’s Military and Economic Power^(J)

¹³ So Solomon came to Jerusalem from ^[a]the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of meeting, and reigned over Israel.

No One Knows the Day or Hour^(A)

³² “But of that day and hour ^(B)no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the ^(C)Father. ^33 (D)Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. ^34 (E)It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave ^(F)authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. ^35 (G)Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— ³⁶ lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. ³⁷ And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”