1 Kings 3:5-15

Christian Standard Bible

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon^(A) in a dream at night.^(B) God said, “Ask.^(C) What should I give you?”

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 integrity.^[a] You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne,^(D) as it is today.^(E)

⁷ “Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place.^(F) Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership.^{[b](G) 8} Your servant is among your people you have chosen,^(H) a people too many to be numbered or counted.^{(I) 9} So give your servant a receptive heart to judge^(J) your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” ^(K)

¹⁰ Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. ¹¹ So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life^[c] or riches for yourself,^(L) or the death^[d] of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice,^{(M) 12} I will therefore do what you have asked.^(N) I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.^{(O) 13} In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor,^(P) so that no king will be your equal during your entire life.^{(Q) 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.”^(R)

¹⁵ Then Solomon woke up^(S) and realized it had been a dream.^(T) He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant,^(U) and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.^(V) Then he held a feast^(W) for all his servants.