1 Kings 10:1–13

The Queen of Sheba’s Praise of Solomon

10Now when the ^aqueen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came ^bto test him with hard questions. ²She came to Jerusalem with a very great ¹retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. ³So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing ²so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. ⁴And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, ⁵the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, ^cand his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. ⁶Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. ⁷However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. ^8dHappy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! ^9eBlessed be the Lord your God, who ^fdelighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, ^gto do justice and righteousness.”

¹⁰Then she ^hgave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. ¹¹ⁱAlso, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of ³almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. ^12jAnd the king made ⁴steps of the almug wood for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such ^kalmug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.

¹³Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.