²³ They ran to bring him from there; when he took his place among the people, he stood head and shoulders above all the people.^{(A) 24} Then Samuel addressed all the people, “Do you see the man whom the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people!” Then all the people shouted out, “Long live the king!”^(B)

⁴ When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to follow other gods, and his heart was not entirely with the Lord, his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

⁹ “As for you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing soul, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the mind’s thoughts. If you search for him, he will be found; but if you abandon him, he will cast you off forever.^(A)

¹⁵ And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.^(A)

²⁴ Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen