1 ¶ And Solomon became a relative of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, for he took Pharaoh’s daughter to wife and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the LORD and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into David’s city, until he had finished building his own house, Yahweh’s house, and the wall around Jerusalem.

2 U ntil then the people sacrificed in high places because there was still no house built unto the name of the LORD until those days.

However the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was not yet a house built for Yahweh’s name.

3 A nd Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David, his father; only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.

Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father; except that he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

4 A nd 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.

The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5 ¶ In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, Ask what you wish that I shall give thee.

In Gibeon, Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you.”

6 A nd Solomon said, Thou hast shown unto thy slave David, my father, great mercy, according to the way he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great mercy that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

7 A nd now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy slave king instead of David my father; and I am but a tender young man; I do not know how to go out or come in.

Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.

8 A nd thy slave is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Your servant is among your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered or counted for multitude.

9 G ive, therefore, thy slave a hearing heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this thy so great a people?

Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”

10 A nd the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 A nd 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 hear judgment,

God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have you asked for riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;

12 b ehold, I have done according to thy words: behold, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.

13 A nd I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and glory so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee in all thy days.

I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.

14 A nd if thou wilt walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments as thy father David walked, then I will lengthen thy days.

If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

15 A nd when Solomon awoke, he beheld 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 banquet for all his slaves.

Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

16 ¶ In that season two women, that were harlots, came unto the king and stood before him.

Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him.

17 A nd 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.

The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. I delivered a child with her in the house.

18 A nd it came to pass the third day after I was delivered that this woman was delivered also and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, except the two of us in the house.

The third day after I delivered, this woman delivered also. We were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, just us two in the house.

19 A nd this woman’s child died in the night because she lay on top of him.

This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it.

20 A nd she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me while thy handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom and laid her dead child in my bosom.

She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

21 A nd 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 had given birth to.

When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.”

22 A nd the other woman said, No, but my son is alive, and thy son is dead. And this one said, No, but thy son is dead, and my son is alive. Thus they spoke before the king.

The other woman said, “No; but the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” The first one said, “No; but the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.

23 T hen said the king, The one saith, This is my son that is alive, and thy son is dead. And the other saith, No; but thy son is dead, and my son is alive.

Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead;’ and the other says, ‘No; but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’”

24 A nd the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.

25 A nd the king said, Divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other.

The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”

26 T hen the woman, of whom the living child was, spoke 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.

Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill him!” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.”

27 T hen the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it, for she is its mother.

Then the king answered, “Give her the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.”

28 A nd all Israel heard of that judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to judge.

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 justice.