Solomon asks for wisdom
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. He brought her into the City of David until he had finished building his palace, the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. At that time the people were still sacrificing at the worship shrines, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord. Solomon loved the Lord and followed the rules of his father David, except that he still sacrificed and burned incense at the worship shrines. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice, because it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream during the night. God said: Ask me for whatever you want me to give you. Solomon answered: You showed great mercy to your servant David my father because he walked before you in truth, righteousness and uprightness of heart. You have continued that great kindness by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. Now, Lord my God, you've made your servant king in place of my father David, but I'm young and inexperienced. I hardly know how to go out or come in. Your servant is here among your chosen people, a great nation too numerous to count. So give your servant a discerning heart to judge your people and tell good from evil. Otherwise, who could possibly judge this great people of yours? The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. God said to him: Because you've asked for this instead of asking for long life, riches or the lives of your enemies, and you've asked for understanding to discern judgment, I'll do what you've asked. I'm giving you a wise and discerning heart, so there has never been anyone like you before, and there will not be anyone like you after. And I'll give you what you didn't ask for as well: riches and honour, so no other king will compare with you all your days. And if you follow my ways and keep my rules and commands as your father David did, I will give you a long life. Solomon woke and realised it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and put on a feast for all his servants.
And Solomon joined himself in marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the City of David, till he'd finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall of Jerusalem all round. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there wasn't a house built for the name of the Lord till those days. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the rules of David his father. Only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, because that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. In Gibeon the Lord showed himself to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said: Ask what I'll give you. And Solomon said: You've shown great mercy to your servant David my father, according to how he walked in front of you in truth and in righteousness and in straightness of heart with you. And you've kept this great kindness for him, that you've given him a son to sit on his throne, the way it is today. And now, Lord my God, you've made your servant king instead of David my father. And I'm only a little child. I don't know how to go out or come in. And your servant is among your people that you've chosen, a great people who can't be counted or numbered for how many they are. So give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, so I can tell between good and bad. Because who's able to judge this great people of yours? And the saying pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said to him: Because you've asked this thing and haven't asked for a long life for yourself, and haven't asked riches for yourself, and haven't asked the life of the ones against you, but have asked understanding for yourself to know judgment — look, I've done according to your words. Look — I've given you a wise and understanding heart, so there hasn't been anyone like you before you, and after you nobody will get up like you. And I've given you what you haven't asked for too, both riches and honour, so there won't be any among the kings like you all your days. And if you'll walk in my ways, to keep my rules and my orders the way David your father walked, then I'll make your days long. And Solomon woke up. And look — it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord and offered up burnt offerings and offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And 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 up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. He brought her into the City of David until he had finished building his palace, the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem.
And Solomon joined himself in marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the City of David, till he'd finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall of Jerusalem all round.
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
At that time the people were still sacrificing at the worship shrines, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there wasn't a house built for the name of the Lord till those days.
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
Solomon loved the Lord and followed the rules of his father David, except that he still sacrificed and burned incense at the worship shrines.
And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the rules of David his father. Only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice, because it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, because that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream during the night. God said: Ask me for whatever you want me to give you.
In Gibeon the Lord showed himself to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said: Ask what I'll give you.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
Solomon answered: You showed great mercy to your servant David my father because he walked before you in truth, righteousness and uprightness of heart. You have continued that great kindness by giving him a son to sit on his throne today.
And Solomon said: You've shown great mercy to your servant David my father, according to how he walked in front of you in truth and in righteousness and in straightness of heart with you. And you've kept this great kindness for him, that you've given him a son to sit on his throne, the way it is today.
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
Now, Lord my God, you've made your servant king in place of my father David, but I'm young and inexperienced. I hardly know how to go out or come in.
And now, Lord my God, you've made your servant king instead of David my father. And I'm only a little child. I don't know how to go out or come in.
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
Your servant is here among your chosen people, a great nation too numerous to count.
And your servant is among your people that you've chosen, a great people who can't be counted or numbered for how many they are.
And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
So give your servant a discerning heart to judge your people and tell good from evil. Otherwise, who could possibly judge this great people of yours?
So give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, so I can tell between good and bad. Because who's able to judge this great people of yours?
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
And the saying pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
God said to him: Because you've asked for this instead of asking for long life, riches or the lives of your enemies, and you've asked for understanding to discern judgment,
And God said to him: Because you've asked this thing and haven't asked for a long life for yourself, and haven't asked riches for yourself, and haven't asked the life of the ones against you, but have asked understanding for yourself to know judgment —
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
I'll do what you've asked. I'm giving you a wise and discerning heart, so there has never been anyone like you before, and there will not be anyone like you after.
look, I've done according to your words. Look — I've given you a wise and understanding heart, so there hasn't been anyone like you before you, and after you nobody will get up like you.
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
And I'll give you what you didn't ask for as well: riches and honour, so no other king will compare with you all your days.
And I've given you what you haven't asked for too, both riches and honour, so there won't be any among the kings like you all your days.
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
And if you follow my ways and keep my rules and commands as your father David did, I will give you a long life.
And if you'll walk in my ways, to keep my rules and my orders the way David your father walked, then I'll make your days long.
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Solomon woke and realised it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and put on a feast for all his servants.
And Solomon woke up. And look — it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord and offered up burnt offerings and offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
And 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 up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
The two women and the child
Some time later two women came before the king and stood before him. One of them said: My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a child while she was there with me. Three days after I gave birth, she had a child too. We were alone together; there was no one else in the house except the two of us. During the night this woman's child died because she rolled over on him. So she got up in the middle of the night while your servant was asleep. She took my son from beside me, put him beside herself, and put her dead child beside me. When I got up in the morning to feed my son, he was dead. But in the morning light I looked closely and realised he wasn't the son I'd given birth to. The other woman said: No! The living boy is my son and the dead one is yours. The first woman answered: No, the dead boy is yours and the living one is mine. And on they went before the king. The king said: One says, The living child is mine and the dead one is yours. The other says, No, the dead one is yours and the living one is mine. Then the king said: Bring me a sword. So they brought a sword before him. The king said: Cut the living child in two and give half to one woman and half to the other. The mother of the living child was overcome with love for her son and cried: Please, my lord, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don't kill him. But the other woman said: He'll be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two. Then the king gave his ruling: Give the living child to the first woman. Do not kill him. She is his mother. All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they held him in awe, because they saw that God's wisdom was in him to administer justice.
Then two women came to the king and stood in front of him. And one woman said: My lord, I and this woman live in one house. And I had a child with her in the house. And on the third day after I had my child, this woman had a child too. And we were together. There wasn't any stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. And this woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it. And she got up at midnight and took my son from beside me while your servant slept, and laid it in her chest, and laid her dead child in my chest. And when I got up in the morning to feed my child, there it was, dead. But when I'd looked at it carefully in the morning, look — it wasn't my son that I'd had. And the other woman said: No, but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son. And this one said: No, but the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son. That's how they spoke in front of the king. Then the king said: One says: This one is my son who lives, and your son is the dead one. And the other says: No, but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one. And the king said: Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword in front of the king. And the king said: Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other. Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, because her insides yearned over her son: My lord, give her the living child, and don't kill it at all. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor yours, but cut it. Then the king answered: Give her the living child, and don't kill it at all. She's its mother. And all Israel heard of the judgment the king had judged, and they were afraid of the king. Because they saw the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
Some time later two women came before the king and stood before him.
Then two women came to the king and stood in front of him.
Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
One of them said: My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a child while she was there with me.
And one woman said: My lord, I and this woman live in one house. And I had a child with her in the house.
And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
Three days after I gave birth, she had a child too. We were alone together; there was no one else in the house except the two of us.
And on the third day after I had my child, this woman had a child too. And we were together. There wasn't any stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house.
And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
During the night this woman's child died because she rolled over on him.
And this woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it.
And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
So she got up in the middle of the night while your servant was asleep. She took my son from beside me, put him beside herself, and put her dead child beside me.
And she got up at midnight and took my son from beside me while your servant slept, and laid it in her chest, and laid her dead child in my chest.
And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
When I got up in the morning to feed my son, he was dead. But in the morning light I looked closely and realised he wasn't the son I'd given birth to.
And when I got up in the morning to feed my child, there it was, dead. But when I'd looked at it carefully in the morning, look — it wasn't my son that I'd had.
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
The other woman said: No! The living boy is my son and the dead one is yours. The first woman answered: No, the dead boy is yours and the living one is mine. And on they went before the king.
And the other woman said: No, but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son. And this one said: No, but the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son. That's how they spoke in front of the king.
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
The king said: One says, The living child is mine and the dead one is yours. The other says, No, the dead one is yours and the living one is mine.
Then the king said: One says: This one is my son who lives, and your son is the dead one. And the other says: No, but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.
Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
Then the king said: Bring me a sword. So they brought a sword before him.
And the king said: Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword in front of the king.
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
The king said: Cut the living child in two and give half to one woman and half to the other.
And the king said: Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
The mother of the living child was overcome with love for her son and cried: Please, my lord, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don't kill him. But the other woman said: He'll be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two.
Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, because her insides yearned over her son: My lord, give her the living child, and don't kill it at all. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor yours, but cut it.
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
Then the king gave his ruling: Give the living child to the first woman. Do not kill him. She is his mother.
Then the king answered: Give her the living child, and don't kill it at all. She's its mother.
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they held him in awe, because they saw that God's wisdom was in him to administer justice.
And all Israel heard of the judgment the king had judged, and they were afraid of the king. Because they saw the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.