1 A nd Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Solomon the son of David became a strong king. The Lord his God was with him, and gave him much honor.

2 A nd Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' houses.

Solomon spoke to all Israel. He spoke to the leaders of thousands and of hundreds. He spoke to the men who judge and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses.

3 S o Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness.

Then Solomon and all the people with him went to a place of worship at Gibeon where God’s meeting tent was. It was the tent which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the desert.

4 B ut the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

(But David had brought up the special box of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had made ready for it. For he had set up a tent for it in Jerusalem.)

5 M oreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it.

Now the brass altar was there in front of the meeting tent of the Lord. It was the altar which was made by Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur. Solomon and the people worshiped the Lord there.

6 A nd Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before Jehovah, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon it.

Solomon went before the Lord to the brass altar at the meeting tent. And he gave a thousand burnt gifts on it.

7 I n that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

That night God showed Himself to Solomon and said to him, “Ask Me for anything and I will give it to you.”

8 A nd Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great lovingkindness unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead.

Solomon said to God, “You have acted toward my father David with great loving-kindness. And You have made me king in his place.

9 N ow, O Jehovah God, let thy promise unto David my father be established; for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

Now, O Lord God, Your promise to my father David has come true. For You have made me king over as many people as the dust of the earth.

10 G ive me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

Now give me wisdom and much understanding, that I may lead these people. For who can rule this great nation of Yours?”

11 A nd God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

God said to Solomon, “You have not asked for riches, much money, or honor, or the life of those who hate you. And you have not asked for a long life for yourself. But you have asked for wisdom and much understanding, that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king. Because this was in your heart,

12 w isdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.

wisdom and much understanding have been given to you. And I will give you riches and much money and honor. You will have more than all the kings who were before you, and more than all who will come after you.” Solomon’s Power and Riches

13 S o Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, unto Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.

So Solomon went from the place of worship at Gibeon, from the meeting tent to Jerusalem. There he ruled over Israel.

14 A nd Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

Solomon gathered together war-wagons and horsemen. He had 1, 400 war-wagons and 12, 000 horsemen. And he kept some of them in the war-wagon cities, and some with him in Jerusalem.

15 A nd the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.

The king made silver and gold as easy to find in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedar trees as easy to find as sycamore trees in the valley.

16 A nd the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; the king's merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.

Solomon’s horses were brought in from Egypt and Kue. The men who traded for the king received them from Kue for a special price.

17 A nd they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.

They paid 600 pieces of silver for each war-wagon brought in from Egypt and 150 pieces of silver for each horse. They also sold them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.