Solomon's Walk With Yahweh
1 Then (A)Solomon (a)formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter (B)and brought her to the city of David (C)until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and (D)the wall around Jerusalem.
1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
1 Solomon made an alliance(a) with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter.(A) Solomon brought her to live in the city of David(B) until he finished building his palace,(C) the Lord’s temple,(D) and the wall surrounding Jerusalem.(E)
1 Later, Solomon intermarried with the family of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt by taking his daughter and bringing her to the City of David to live until he had completed building his own palace, the LORD's Temple, and the wall around Jerusalem.
1 Now Solomon became a son-in-law to Pharaoh king of Egypt [and formed an alliance] by (a)taking Pharaoh’s daughter [in marriage]. He brought her to the (b)City of David [where she remained temporarily] until he had finished building his own house (palace) and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem.
2 (E)The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the Lord until those days.
2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places,(F) because until that time a temple for the Lord’s name(G) had not been built.
2 The people were sacrificing at various high places because the Temple had not yet been built and dedicated to the LORD.
3 Now (F)Solomon loved the Lord, (G)walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
3 Solomon loved the Lord(H) by walking in the statutes of his father David,(I) but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
3 Solomon loved the LORD, and lived according to the statutes that his father David obeyed, except that he sacrificed and burned offerings at the high places.
Solomon Requests Wisdom From God
4 (H)The king went to (I)Gibeon to sacrifice there, (J)for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
4 The king went to Gibeon(J) to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.(K)
4 The king used to go to Gibeon to sacrifice, since there was a famous high place there, where Solomon once offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.
4 The king went to Gibeon [near Jerusalem, where the tabernacle and the bronze altar stood] to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
Solomon's Request For Wisdom
5 (K)In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon (L)in a dream at night; and God said, “(M)Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon(L) in a dream at night.(M) God said, “Ask.(N) What should I give you?”
5 The LORD appeared to Solomon one night in a dream and told him, "Ask me for whatever you want and I'll give it to you."
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask [Me] what I shall give you.”
6 Then Solomon said, “(N)You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, (O)according as he walked before You in (b)truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and (P)You have (c)reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and(b) integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,(O) as it is today.(P)
6 So Solomon said:
6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown Your servant David my father great lovingkindness, because he walked before You in faithfulness and righteousness and with uprightness of heart toward You; and You have kept for him this great lovingkindness, in that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.
7 Now, O Lord my God, (Q)You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet (R)I am but a little child; (S)I do not know how to go out or come in.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
7 “Lord my God, You have now made Your servant king in my father David’s place.(Q) Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.(c)(R)
7 "You have demonstrated abundant gracious love to your servant David, my father, as he lived in your presence truthfully, righteously, and uprightly in his heart. In addition, you have kept on showing this abundant gracious love by giving him a son to sit on his throne today. Now, LORD my God, you have set me as king to replace my father David, but I'm still young. I don't have any leadership skills.
8 (T)Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, (U)a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
8 Your servant is among Your people You have chosen,(S) a(d) people too numerous to be numbered or counted.(T)
8 Your servant lives in the midst of your people that you have chosen, a great people that is too numerous to be counted.
8 Your servant is among Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.
9 So (V)give Your servant (d)an understanding heart to judge Your people (W)to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this (e)great people of Yours?”
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
9 So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge(U) Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”(V)
9 So give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I can discern between good and evil. Otherwise, how will I be able to govern this great people of yours?"
11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have (X)not asked for yourself (g)long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself (h)discernment to understand justice,
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
11 So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life(e) or riches for yourself,(W) or the death(f) of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice,(X)
11 so God told him:
11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself a long life nor for wealth, nor for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize justice,
12 behold, (Y)I have done according to your words. Behold, (Z)I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
12 I will therefore do what you have asked.(Y) I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.(Z)
12 "Because you asked for this, and you didn't ask for a long life for yourself, and you didn't ask for the lives of your enemies, but instead you've asked for discernment so you can understand how to govern, look how I'm going to do precisely what you asked. I'm giving you a wise and discerning mind, so that there will have been no one like you before you and no one will arise after you like you.
12 behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise and discerning heart (mind), so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall anyone equal to you arise after you.
13 (AA)I have also given you what you have not asked, both (AB)riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
13 In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,(AA) so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life.(AB)
13 I'm also giving you what you haven't requested: both riches and honor, so that no other king will be comparable to you during your lifetime.
13 I have also given you what you have not asked, both wealth and honor, so that there will not be anyone equal to you among the kings, for all your days.
14 (AC)If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will (AD)prolong your days.”
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
14 If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”(AC)
14 If you will live life my way, keeping my statutes and my commands, just like your father David did, I'll also increase the length of your life."
15 Then (AE)Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and (AF)made a feast for all his servants.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
15 Then Solomon woke up(AD) and realized it had been a dream.(AE) He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant,(AF) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(AG) Then he held a feast(AH) for all his servants.
15 Then Solomon woke up and realized that he had dreamed a dream. Then he went back to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the LORD's covenant, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and threw a party for all of his servants.
Solomon's Wisdom Tested: The Two Prostitutes
16 Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him.
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
16 Right about then, two prostitutes approached the king and requested an audience with him.
16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, (i)this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
17 One woman said, “Please my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was in the house.
17 One woman said, "Your majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.
17 And the one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.
18 It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
18 On the third day after I gave birth, she also had a baby and we were alone. No one else(g) was with us in the house; just the two of us were there.
18 Three days later, this woman also gave birth. We lived alone there. There was nobody else with us in the house. It was just the two of us.
18 And on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were [alone] together; no one else was with us in the house, just we two.
19 This woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it.
19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
19 During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.
19 This woman's son died overnight because she laid on top of him.
19 Now this woman’s son died during the night, because she lay on him [and smothered him].
20 So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
20 She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while your servant was asleep. She laid him at her breast, and she put her dead son in my arms.
20 She got up in the middle of the night, took my son from me while your servant was asleep, and laid him to her breast after laying her dead son next to me.
20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from [his place] beside me while your maidservant was asleep, and laid him on her bosom, and laid her dead son on my bosom.
21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne.”
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
21 When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, I discovered he was dead. That morning, when I looked closely at him I realized that he was not the son I gave birth to.”
21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son, and he was dead. But when I examined him carefully in the light of day, he turned out not to be my son whom I had borne!"
21 When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead. But when I examined him carefully in the morning, behold, it was not my son, the one whom I had borne.”
22 Then the other woman said, “No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” But (j)the first woman said, “No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
22 “No,” the other woman said. “My son is the living one; your son is the dead one.”The first woman said, “No, your son is the dead one; my son is the living one.” So they argued before the king.
22 "Not so," claimed the other woman. "The living child is my son, and the dead one is yours." But the first woman said, "Not so! The dead child is your son and the living one is my son." This is what they testified before the king.
22 Then the other woman said, “No! For my son is the one who is living, and your son is the dead one.” But the first woman said, “No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.” [This is how] they were speaking before the king.
23 Then the king said, “(k)The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and (l)the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’”
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
23 The king replied, “This woman says, ‘This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,’ but that woman says, ‘No, your son is dead, and my son is alive.’”
23 The king said, "One of them claims, "This living son is mine, and your son is the dead one' and the other claims "No. Your son is the dead one and my son is the living one.'
23 Then the king said, “This woman says, ‘This is my son, the one who is alive, and your son is the dead one’; and the other woman says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the one who is alive.’”
24 The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
24 The king continued, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought the sword to the king.
24 "Somebody get me a sword." So they brought a sword to the king.
24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.
25 The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.”
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
25 Solomon said, “Cut the living boy in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
25 "Divide the living child in two!" he ordered. "Give half to the one and half to the other."
25 Then the king said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to the one [woman] and half to the other.”
26 Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for (m)(AG)she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!”
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
26 The woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she felt great compassion(h)(AJ) for her son. “My lord, give her the living baby,” she said, “but please don’t have him killed!”But the other one said, “He will not be mine or yours. Cut him in two!”
26 The woman whose child was still alive cried out to the king, because her heart yearned for her son. "Oh no, your majesty!" she said. "Give her the living child. Please don't kill him." But the other woman said, "Cut him in half! That way, he'll belong to neither one of us."
26 Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply moved over her son, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; cut him!”
27 Then the king said, “Give (n)the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
27 The king responded, “Give the living baby to the first woman, and don’t kill him. She is his mother.”
27 The king announced his decision: "Give the living child to the first woman. Don't kill him. She is his mother."
27 Then the king said, “Give the first woman [who is pleading for his life] the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”
28 When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had (o)handed down, they feared the king, for (AH)they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to (p)administer justice.
28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
28 All Israel heard about the judgment the king had given, and they stood in awe of the king because they saw that God’s wisdom(AK) was in him to carry out justice.
28 When this decision that the king had handed down was announced, everybody in Israel was amazed at the king, because they all saw that God's wisdom was in him, enabling him to administer justice.
28 When all [the people of] Israel heard about the judgment which the king had made, they [were in awe and reverently] feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was within him to administer justice.