¹The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s reputation. So she came to Jerusalem to test him with riddles. She arrived with a large group of servants, with camels carrying spices, a large quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she talked to him about everything she had on her mind. ²Solomon answered all her questions. No question was too difficult for Solomon to answer.

³When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s wisdom, the palace he built, ⁴the food on his table, his officers’ seating arrangement, the organization of his officials and the uniforms they wore, his cupbearers^aand their uniforms, and the burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the Lord’s temple, she was breathless. ⁵She told the king, “What I heard in my country about your words and your wisdom is true!⁶But I didn’t believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. I wasn’t even told about half of the extent of your wisdom. You’ve surpassed the stories I’ve heard. ⁷How blessed your men must be! How blessed these servants of yours must be because they are always stationed in front of you and listen to your wisdom! ⁸Thank the Lord your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on his throne to be king on behalf of the Lord your God. Because of your God’s love for the people of Israel, he has established them permanently and made you king over them so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.”

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Footnotes

a 9:4 A cupbearer was a trusted royal official who ensured that the king’s drink was not poisoned.