1 Kings 3:3–14

³Solomon showed his love^s for the Lord by walking^t according to the instructions^u given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.^v

⁴The king went to Gibeon^w to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared^x to Solomon during the night in a dream,^y and God said, “Ask^z for whatever you want me to give you.”

⁶Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful^a to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son^b to sit on his throne this very day.

⁷“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child^c and do not know how to carry out my duties. ⁸Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,^d a great people, too numerous to count or number.^{e 9}So give your servant a discerning^f heart to govern your people and to distinguish^g between right and wrong. For who is able^h to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. ¹¹So God said to him, “Since you have askedⁱ for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment^j in administering justice, ¹²I will do what you have asked.^k I will give you a wise^l and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ¹³Moreover, I will give you what you have not^m asked for—both wealth and honorⁿ—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal^o among kings. ¹⁴And if you walk^p in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”^q