The Queen of Sheba

1 aNow when the aqueen of bSheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came cto test him with difficult questions.

2 So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels acarrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.

3 Solomon 1answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king which he did not 2explain to her.

4 When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

5 the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and 1his stairway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.

6 Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.

7 “Nevertheless I did not believe the 1reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.

8 “How ablessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.

9 “aBlessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; bbecause the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, cto do justice and righteousness.”

10 aShe gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. Never again did such abundance of spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

11 aAlso the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a very great number of almug trees and precious stones.

12 aThe king made of the almug trees supports for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again nor have they been seen to this day.

13 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides what he gave her according to 1his royal bounty. Then she turned and went to her own land 2together with her servants.

Wealth, Splendor and Wisdom

14 aNow the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

15 besides that from the traders and the 1wares of the merchants and all the kings of the aArabs and the governors of the country.