1 Kings 3:5–15

⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon^ae in a dream at night.^af God said, “Ask.^ag What should I give you?”

⁶And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity.^B You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,^ah as it is today.^ai

⁷“Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place.^aj Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.^{Ca 8}Your servant is among your people you have chosen,^b a people too many to be numbered or counted.^{c 9}So give your servant a receptive heart to judge^d your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”^e

¹⁰Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. ¹¹So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life^A or riches for yourself,^f or the death^B of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice,^{g 12}I will therefore do what you have asked.^h I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.^{i 13}In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,^j so that no king will be your equal during your entire life.^{k 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.”^l

¹⁵Then Solomon woke up^m and realized it had been a dream.ⁿ He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant,^o and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.^p Then he held a feast^q for all his servants.