1 Kings 3:3-15
New American Standard Bible
3 Now (A)Solomon loved the Lord, (B)walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he was sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. 4 And (C)the king went to (D)Gibeon to sacrifice there, (E)because that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 (F)In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon (G)in a dream at night; and God said, “(H)Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
Solomon’s Prayer
6 Then Solomon said, “(I)You have shown great faithfulness to Your servant David my father, (J)according as he walked before You in [a]truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart toward You; and (K)You have [b]reserved for him this great faithfulness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, Lord my God, (L)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet (M)I am like a little boy; (N)I do not know how to [c]go out or come in. 8 And (O)Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, (P)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So (Q)give Your servant [d]an understanding heart to judge Your people, (R)to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this [e]great people of Yours?”
God’s Answer
10 Now [f]it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have (S)not asked for yourself [g]a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, (T)I have done according to your words. Behold, (U)I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 (V)I have also given you what you have not asked, both (W)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 And (X)if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will (Y)prolong your days.”
15 Then (Z)Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and (AA)held a feast for all his servants.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Kings 3:6 Or faithfulness
- 1 Kings 3:6 Lit kept
- 1 Kings 3:7 I.e., conduct daily business
- 1 Kings 3:9 Or a heart that listens
- 1 Kings 3:9 Lit heavy
- 1 Kings 3:10 Lit the thing was
- 1 Kings 3:11 Lit many days
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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