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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places.(A) 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.(B) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.”(C) 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.(D) 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.(E) 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.(F) 9 Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”(G)
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,(H) 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you.(I) 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.(J) 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”(K)
15 Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem, where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being and provided a feast for all his servants.(L)
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.