^3:9So give your servant a discerning mind¹⁸ so he can make judicial decisions for¹⁹ your people and distinguish right from wrong.²⁰ Otherwise²¹ no one is able²² to make judicial decisions for²³ this great nation of yours.”²⁴^3:10The Lord²⁵ was pleased that Solomon made this request.²⁶^3:11God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,²⁷^3:12I²⁸ grant your request,²⁹ and give³⁰ you a wise and discerning mind³¹ superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.³²

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1 Kings 3:9: Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?...

Footnotes

18 Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
19 Heb “to judge.”
20 Heb “to understand between good and evil.”
21 Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
22 Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
23 Heb “to judge.”
24 Heb “your numerous people.”
25 The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in v. 15 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
26 Heb “And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, for Solomon asked for this thing.”
27 Heb “because you asked for this thing, and did not ask for yourself many days and did not ask for yourself riches and did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you asked for yourself understanding to hear judgment.”
28 This statement is introduced in the Hebrew text by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows.
29 Heb “I am doing according to your words.” The perfect tense is sometimes used of actions occurring at the same time a statement is made.
30 This statement is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows. The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made (i.e., “right now I give you”).
31 Heb “heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)
32 Heb “so that there has not been one like you prior to you, and after you one will not arise like you.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”

Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.

NLTNew Living Translation

Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, because who is able to judge this, your difficult people?”

The word was good in the eyes of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and you did not ask for yourself a long life and you did not ask riches for yourself and you did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself the ability to make wise judgments; behold, I do hereby do according to your word. I hereby give you a wise and discerning heart; there was no one like you before you, nor afterwards will one like you arise.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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