1 W hen the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.

Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with difficult questions.

2 S he came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.

So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.

3 S olomon answered all her questions. There was not anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.

Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.

4 W hen the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

When the queen of Sheba perceived all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,

5 t he food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house; there was no more spirit in her.

the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.

6 S he said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.

Then she said to the king, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.

7 H owever I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.

Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.

8 H appy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.

How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.

9 B lessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”

Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”

10 S he gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.

She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. Never again did such abundance of spices come in as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.

11 T he fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir, also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.

Also the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a very great number of almug trees and precious stones.

12 T he king made of the almug trees pillars for Yahweh’s house, and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen, to this day.

The king made of the almug trees supports for the house of the Lord and for the king’s house, also lyres and harps for the singers; such almug trees have not come in again nor have they been seen to this day.

13 K ing Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.

King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she requested, besides what he gave her according to his royal bounty. Then she turned and went to her own land together with her servants. Wealth, Splendor and Wisdom

14 N ow the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,

Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold,

15 b esides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.

besides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country.

16 K ing Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler.

King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of gold on each large shield.

17 h e made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield; and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.

18 M oreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.

Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with refined gold.

19 T here were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were armrests on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests.

There were six steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.

20 T welve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps. Nothing like it was made in any kingdom.

Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom.

21 A ll king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver, because it was considered of little value in the days of Solomon.

All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.

22 F or the king had a fleet of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet. Once every three years the fleet of Tarshish came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.

For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.

23 S o king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

24 A ll the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.

25 Y ear after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.

They brought every man his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.

26 S olomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he kept in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.

Now Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had 1, 400 chariots and 12, 000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.

27 T he king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and cedars as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the lowland.

28 T he horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt. The king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.

Also Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price.

29 A chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty shekels; and so they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites, and to the kings of Syria.

A chariot was imported from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150; and by the same means they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of the Arameans.