1 Kings 3:3-15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Solomon loved the Lord(A) by walking in the statutes of his father David,(B) but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4 The king went to Gibeon(C) to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.(D) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon(E) in a dream at night.(F) God said, “Ask.(G) What should I give you?”
6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and[a] integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,(H) as it is today.(I)
7 “Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place.(J) Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.[b](K) 8 Your servant is among Your people You have chosen,(L) a[c] people too numerous to be numbered or counted.(M) 9 So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge(N) Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”(O)
10 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11 So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life[d] or riches for yourself,(P) or the death[e] of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice,(Q) 12 I will therefore do what you have asked.(R) I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.(S) 13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,(T) so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life.(U) 14 If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”(V)
15 Then Solomon woke up(W) and realized it had been a dream.(X) He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant,(Y) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(Z) Then he held a feast(AA) for all his servants.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 3:6 Lit and with You
- 1 Kings 3:7 Lit am a little youth and do not know to go out or come in
- 1 Kings 3:8 Lit chosen many
- 1 Kings 3:11 Lit for many days
- 1 Kings 3:11 Lit life
1 Kings 3:3-15
Common English Bible
3 Now Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the laws of his father David, with the exception that he also sacrificed and burned incense at the shrines.
4 The king went to the great shrine at Gibeon in order to sacrifice there. He used to offer a thousand entirely burned offerings on that altar. 5 The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.”
6 Solomon responded, “You showed so much kindness to your servant my father David when he walked before you in truth, righteousness, and with a heart true to you. You’ve kept this great loyalty and kindness for him and have now given him a son to sit on his throne. 7 And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David’s place. But I’m young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing. 8 But I’m here, your servant, in the middle of the people you have chosen, a large population that can’t be numbered or counted due to its vast size. 9 Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern this important people of yours without your help.”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked for this instead of requesting long life, wealth, or victory over your enemies—asking for discernment so as to acquire good judgment— 12 I will now do just what you said. Look, I hereby give you a wise and understanding mind. There has been no one like you before now, nor will there be anyone like you afterward. 13 I now also give you what you didn’t ask for: wealth and fame. There won’t be a king like you as long as you live. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my laws and commands, just as your father David did, then I will give you a very long life.”
15 Solomon awoke and realized it was a dream. He went to Jerusalem and stood before the chest containing the Lord’s covenant. Then he offered entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices, and held a celebration for all his servants.
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