1 Kings 3:5–15

^5kAt Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon ^lin a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

^6mAnd Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he ⁿwalked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You ^ohave given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a ^plittle child; I do not know how ^qto go out or come in. ⁸And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You ^rhave chosen, a great people, ^stoo numerous to be numbered or counted. ^9tTherefore give to Your servant an ²understanding heart ^uto judge Your people, that I may ^vdiscern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

¹⁰The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have ^wnot asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, ^12xbehold, I have done according to your words; ^ysee, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. ¹³And I have also ^zgiven you what you have not asked: both ^ariches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. ¹⁴So ^bif you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, ^cas your father David walked, then I will ^dlengthen ³your days.”

¹⁵Then Solomon ^eawoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and ^fmade a feast for all his servants.