1 Kings 3:5–15

⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon ^zin a dream at night. ^aGod said, “Ask. ^bWhat 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 ^cintegrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, ^das it is today. ^e

⁷“Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place. ^fYet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. ^gh8Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, ⁱa ^jpeople too numerous to be numbered or counted. ^k9So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge ^lYour people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” ^m

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 ⁿor riches for yourself, ^oor the death ^pof your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice, ^q12I will therefore do what you have asked. ^rI will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. ^s13In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, ^tso that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life. ^u14If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” ^v

¹⁵Then Solomon woke up ^wand realized it had been a dream. ^xHe went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant, ^yand offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. ^zThen he held a feast ^afor all his servants.