Solomon Requests Wisdom

3 Now aSolomon made 1a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh’s daughter; then he brought her bto the City of David until he had finished building his cown house, and dthe house of the Lord, and ethe wall all around Jerusalem. 2 fMeanwhile the people sacrificed at the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the Lord until those days. 3 And Solomon gloved the Lord, hwalking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.

4 Now ithe king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, jfor that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 kAt Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon lin a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

6 mAnd 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. 7 Now, 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. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You rhave chosen, a great people, stoo numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 tTherefore 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?”

10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then 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, 12 xbehold, 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. 13 And 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. 14 So bif you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, cas your father David walked, then I will dlengthen 3your days.”

15 Then 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.