1 Kings 3:5-15 - Solomon's Request For Wisdom

⁵ And in Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, "Ask what I shall give thee."

⁶ And Solomon said, "Thou hast showed unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy; according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and plainness of heart with thee. And thou hast kept for him this great mercy, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his seat: as it is come to pass this day.

⁷ And now LORD, my God, it is thou that hast made thy servant king instead of David my father. And I am a young lad and know not how to order myself. ⁸ And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a people that are so many that they can not be told nor numbered for multitude. ⁹ Give therefore unto thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, and to discern between good, and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so weighty a people?"

¹⁰ And it pleased the LORD well, that Solomon had desired this thing. ¹¹ Wherefore God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked long life, neither hast asked riches, nor the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked the discretion to understand equity: ¹² see, I have done according to thy petition. And behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. ¹³ And thereto I have given thee that thou askedst not, both riches and honour: so that there shall be no king like thee all thy days. ¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep mine ordinances and commandments as David thy father did walk, I will lengthen thy days also."

¹⁵ When Solomon awoke, this was his dream. And he came to Jerusalem and presented himself before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.