1 ¶ And Solomon, the son of David, was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD 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 T hen Solomon spoke unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every prince in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

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 congregation with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for there was the tabernacle of the testimony of God, which Moses the slave of the LORD 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 David had brought the ark of God up from Kirjathjearim to the place which 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 brasen altar that Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the LORD; and Solomon and the congregation 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 there to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the testimony, 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 A nd that night God appeared 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 mercy unto David, my father, and hast placed me as 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 LORD God, let thy word unto David, my father, be established, for thou hast placed me as 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 glory, nor the life of thy enemies, neither yet hast asked long life, but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou may judge my people, over whom I have placed thee as 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 also give thee riches and wealth and glory such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall 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 ¶ Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of the testimony, and 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 four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, which 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 at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and he made cedar trees as the sycamore trees that are in the vale 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 Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn; the king’s merchants received the linen yarn 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 went up and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver and a horse for one hundred and fifty; and so they brought out horses for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Syria, by their hands.

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.