1 N ow Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and exalted 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 spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader 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 T hen Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant 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 up the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim to the place 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 N ow the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord; Solomon and the assembly sought Him there.

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 bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

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

7 O n that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

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 to God: “You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.

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 Your promise to David my father be established, for You have 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 N ow give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

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

11 T hen God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you 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 are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” Solomon’s Military and Economic Power

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 to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tabernacle of meeting, 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; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in 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 lso the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland.

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 imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current 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 T hey also acquired and imported from Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred and fifty; thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

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.