¹ And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

² Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.

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

⁴ And 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.

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

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

⁷ And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

⁸ And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

⁹ Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

¹⁰ And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.

¹¹ And 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 discern judgment;

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

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

¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

¹⁵ And Solomon awoke; and, behold, 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 feast to all his servants.

¹⁶ Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

¹⁷ And 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.

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

¹⁹ And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

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

²¹ And 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 did bear.

²² And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

²³ Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

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

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

²⁶ Then spake the woman whose the living child was 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.

²⁷ Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

²⁸ And 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 judgment.

---

¹ And Solomon ^H8010 made affinity ^H2859 with Pharaoh ^H6547 king ^H4428 of Egypt, ^H4714 and took ^H3947 Pharaoh's ^H6547 daughter, ^H1323 and brought ^H935 her into the city ^H5892 of David, ^H1732 until he had made an end ^H3615 of building ^H1129 his own house, ^H1004 and the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and the wall ^H2346 of Jerusalem ^H3389 round about. ^H5439

² Only the people ^H5971 sacrificed ^H2076 in high places, ^H1116 because there was no house ^H1004 built ^H1129 unto the name ^H8034 of the LORD, ^H3068 until those days. ^H3117

³ And Solomon ^H8010 loved ^H157 the LORD, ^H3068 walking ^H3212 in the statutes ^H2708 of David ^H1732 his father: ^H1 only he sacrificed ^H2076 and burnt incense ^H6999 in high places. ^H1116

⁴ And the king ^H4428 went ^H3212 to Gibeon ^H1391 to sacrifice ^H2076 there; for that ^H1931 was the great ^H1419 high place: ^H1116 a thousand ^H505 burnt offerings ^H5930 did Solomon ^H8010 offer ^H5927 upon that altar. ^H4196

⁵ In Gibeon ^H1391 the LORD ^H3068 appeared ^H7200 to Solomon ^H8010 in a dream ^H2472 by night: ^H3915 and God ^H430 said, ^H559 Ask ^H7592 what I shall give ^H5414 thee.

⁶ And Solomon ^H8010 said, ^H559 Thou hast shewed ^H6213 unto thy servant ^H5650 David ^H1732 my father ^H1 great ^H1419 mercy, ^H2617 according as he walked ^H1980 before ^H6440 thee in truth, ^H571 and in righteousness, ^H6666 and in uprightness ^H3483 of heart ^H3824 with thee; and thou hast kept ^H8104 for him this great ^H1419 kindness, ^H2617 that thou hast given ^H5414 him a son ^H1121 to sit ^H3427 on his throne, ^H3678 as it is this day. ^H3117

⁷ And now, O LORD ^H3068 my God, ^H430 thou hast made thy servant ^H5650 king ^H4427 instead of David ^H1732 my father: ^H1 and I am but a little ^H6996 child: ^H5288 I know ^H3045 not how to go out ^H3318 or come in. ^H935

⁸ And thy servant ^H5650 is in the midst ^H8432 of thy people ^H5971 which thou hast chosen, ^H977 a great ^H7227 people, ^H5971 that cannot be numbered ^H4487 nor counted ^H5608 for multitude. ^H7230

⁹ Give ^H5414 therefore thy servant ^H5650 an understanding ^H8085 heart ^H3820 to judge ^H8199 thy people, ^H5971 that I may discern ^H995 between good ^H2896 and bad: ^H7451 for who is able ^H3201 to judge ^H8199 this thy so great ^H3515 a people? ^H5971

¹⁰ And the speech ^H1697 pleased ^{H3190 H5869} the Lord, ^H136 that Solomon ^H8010 had asked ^H7592 this thing. ^H1697

¹¹ And God ^H430 said ^H559 unto him, Because thou hast asked ^H7592 this thing, ^H1697 and hast not asked ^H7592 for thyself long ^H7227 life; ^H3117 neither hast asked ^H7592 riches ^H6239 for thyself, nor hast asked ^H7592 the life ^H5315 of thine enemies; ^H341 but hast asked ^H7592 for thyself understanding ^H995 to discern ^H8085 judgment; ^H4941

¹² Behold, I have done ^H6213 according to thy words: ^H1697 lo, I have given ^H5414 thee a wise ^H2450 and an understanding ^H995 heart; ^H3820 so that there was none like thee before ^H6440 thee, neither after ^H310 thee shall any arise ^H6965 like unto thee.

¹³ And I have also given ^H5414 thee that which thou hast not asked, ^H7592 both riches, ^H6239 and honour: ^H3519 so that there shall not be any ^H376 among the kings ^H4428 like unto thee all thy days. ^H3117

¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk ^H3212 in my ways, ^H1870 to keep ^H8104 my statutes ^H2706 and my commandments, ^H4687 as thy father ^H1 David ^H1732 did walk, ^H1980 then I will lengthen ^H748 thy days. ^H3117

¹⁵ And Solomon ^H8010 awoke; ^H3364 and, behold, it was a dream. ^H2472 And he came ^H935 to Jerusalem, ^H3389 and stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 the ark ^H727 of the covenant ^H1285 of the LORD, ^H3068 and offered up ^H5927 burnt offerings, ^H5930 and offered ^H6213 peace offerings, ^H8002 and made ^H6213 a feast ^H4960 to all his servants. ^H5650

¹⁶ Then came ^H935 there two ^H8147 women, ^H802 that were harlots, ^H2181 unto the king, ^H4428 and stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 him.

¹⁷ And the one ^H259 woman ^H802 said, ^H559 O ^H994 my lord, ^H113 I and this woman ^H802 dwell ^H3427 in one ^H259 house; ^H1004 and I was delivered of a child ^H3205 with her in the house. ^H1004

¹⁸ And it came to pass the third ^H7992 day ^H3117 after that I was delivered, ^H3205 that this woman ^H802 was delivered ^H3205 also: and we were together; ^H3162 there was no stranger ^H2114 with us in the house, ^H1004 save ^H2108 we two ^H8147 in the house. ^H1004

¹⁹ And this woman's ^H802 child ^H1121 died ^H4191 in the night; ^H3915 because she overlaid ^H7901 it.

²⁰ And she arose ^H6965 at midnight, ^{H8432 H3915} and took ^H3947 my son ^H1121 from beside ^H681 me, while thine handmaid ^H519 slept, ^H3463 and laid ^H7901 it in her bosom, ^H2436 and laid ^H7901 her dead ^H4191 child ^H1121 in my bosom. ^H2436

²¹ And when I rose ^H6965 in the morning ^H1242 to give my child ^H1121 suck, ^H3243 behold, it was dead: ^H4191 but when I had considered ^H995 it in the morning, ^H1242 behold, it was not my son, ^H1121 which I did bear. ^H3205

²² And the other ^H312 woman ^H802 said, ^H559 Nay; but the living ^H2416 is my son, ^H1121 and the dead ^H4191 is thy son. ^H1121 And this said, ^H559 No; but the dead ^H4191 is thy son, ^H1121 and the living ^H2416 is my son. ^H1121 Thus they spake ^H1696 before ^H6440 the king. ^H4428

²³ Then said ^H559 the king, ^H4428 The one ^H2063 saith, ^H559 This is my son ^H1121 that liveth, ^H2416 and thy son ^H1121 is the dead: ^H4191 and the other ^H2063 saith, ^H559 Nay; but thy son ^H1121 is the dead, ^H4191 and my son ^H1121 is the living. ^H2416

²⁴ And the king ^H4428 said, ^H559 Bring ^H3947 me a sword. ^H2719 And they brought ^H935 a sword ^H2719 before ^H6440 the king. ^H4428

²⁵ And the king ^H4428 said, ^H559 Divide ^H1504 the living ^H2416 child ^H3206 in two, ^H8147 and give ^H5414 half ^H2677 to the one, ^H259 and half ^H2677 to the other. ^H259

²⁶ Then spake ^H559 the woman ^H802 whose the living ^H2416 child ^H1121 was unto the king, ^H4428 for her bowels ^H7356 yearned ^H3648 upon her son, ^H1121 and she said, ^H559 O ^H994 my lord, ^H113 give ^H5414 her the living ^H2416 child, ^H3205 and in no wise ^H4191 slay ^H4191 it. But the other said, ^H559 Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide ^H1504 it.

²⁷ Then the king ^H4428 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 Give ^H5414 her the living ^H2416 child, ^H3205 and in no wise ^H4191 slay ^H4191 it: she is the mother ^H517 thereof.

²⁸ And all Israel ^H3478 heard ^H8085 of the judgment ^H4941 which the king ^H4428 had judged; ^H8199 and they feared ^H3372 the king: ^H6440 for they saw ^H7200 that the wisdom ^H2451 of God ^H430 was in him, ^H7130 to do ^H6213 judgment. ^H4941

---

¹ And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Jehovah, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

² Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Jehovah until those days.

³ And Solomon loved Jehovah, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

⁴ And 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.

⁵ In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

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

⁷ And now, O Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.

⁸ And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

⁹ Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?

¹⁰ And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

¹¹ And 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 discern justice;

¹² behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

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

¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

¹⁵ And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

¹⁶ Then there came two women that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

¹⁷ And the one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

¹⁸ And 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, save we two in the house.

¹⁹ And this woman's child died in the night, because she lay upon it.

²⁰ And 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.

²¹ And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I did bear.

²² And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

²³ Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

²⁴ And the king said, Fetch me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

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

²⁶ Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor thine; divide it.

²⁷ Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

²⁸ And 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.

---

¹ And Solomon joineth in marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and taketh the daughter of Pharaoh, and bringeth her in unto the city of David, till he completeth to build his own house, and the house of Jehovah, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

² Only, the people are sacrificing in high places, for there hath not been built a house for the name of Jehovah till those days.

³ And Solomon loveth Jehovah, to walk in the statutes of David his father -- only, in high places he is sacrificing and making perfume --

⁴ and the king goeth to Gibeon, to sacrifice there, for it `is' the great high place; a thousand burnt-offerings cause to ascend doth Solomon on that altar.

⁵ In Gibeon hath Jehovah appeared unto Solomon, in a dream of the night, and God saith, `Ask -- what do I give to thee?'

⁶ And Solomon saith, `Thou hast done with Thy servant David my father great kindness, as he walked before Thee in truth and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with Thee, and Thou dost keep for him this great kindness, and dost give to him a son sitting on his throne, as `at' this day.

⁷ And now, O Jehovah my God, Thou hast caused thy servant to reign instead of David my father; and I `am' a little child, I do not know to go out and to come in;

⁸ and Thy servant `is' in the midst of thy people, whom Thou hast chosen, a people numerous, that is not numbered nor counted for multitude,

⁹ and Thou hast given to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this Thy great people?'

¹⁰ And the thing is good in the eyes of the Lord, that Solomon hath asked this thing,

¹¹ and God saith unto him, `Because that thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thee many days, nor asked for thee riches, nor asked the life of thine enemies, and hast asked for thee discernment to understand judgment,

¹² lo, I have done according to thy words; lo, I have given to thee a heart, wise and understanding, that like thee there hath not been before thee, and after thee there doth not arise like thee;

¹³ and also, that which thou hast not asked I have given to thee, both riches and honour, that there hath not been like thee a man among the kings all thy days;

¹⁴ and if thou dost walk in My ways to keep My statutes, and My commands, as David thy father walked, then I have prolonged thy days.'

¹⁵ And Solomon awaketh, and lo, a dream; and he cometh in to Jerusalem, and standeth before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and causeth to ascend burnt-offerings, and maketh peace-offerings. And he maketh a banquet for all his servants,

¹⁶ then come in do two women, harlots, unto the king, and stand before him,

¹⁷ and the one woman saith, `O, my lord, I and this woman are dwelling in one house, and I bring forth with her, in the house;

¹⁸ and it cometh to pass on the third day of my bringing forth, that this woman also bringeth forth, and we `are' together, there is no stranger with us in the house, save we two, in the house.

¹⁹ And the son of this woman dieth at night, because she hath lain upon it,

²⁰ and she riseth in the middle of the night, and taketh my son from beside me -- and thy handmaid is asleep -- and layeth it in her bosom, and her dead son she hath laid in my bosom;

²¹ and I rise in the morning to suckle my son, and lo, dead; and I consider concerning it in the morning, and lo, it was not my son whom I did bear.'

²² And the other woman saith, `Nay, but my son `is' the living, and thy son the dead;' and this `one' saith, `Nay, but thy son `is' the dead, and my son the living.' And they speak before the king.

²³ And the king saith, `This `one' saith, This `is' my son, the living, and thy son `is' the dead; and that `one' saith, Nay, but thy son `is' the dead, and my son the living.'

²⁴ And the king saith, `Take for me a sword;' and they bring the sword before the king,

²⁵ and the king saith, `Cut the living child into two, and give the half to the one, and the half to the other.'

²⁶ And the woman whose son `is' the living one saith unto the king (for her bowels yearned over her son), yea, she saith, `O, my lord, give to her the living child, and put it not at all to death;' and this `one' saith, `Let it be neither mine or thine -- cut `it'.'

²⁷ And the king answereth and saith, `Give ye to her the living child, and put it not at all to death; she `is' its mother.'

²⁸ And all Israel hear of the judgment that the king hath judged, and fear because of the king, for they have seen that the wisdom of God `is' in his heart, to do judgment.

---

¹ And Solomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had ended building his own house, and the house of Jehovah, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

² Only, the people sacrificed on the high places; for there was no house built to the name of Jehovah, until those days.

³ And Solomon loved Jehovah, walking in the statutes of David his father; only, he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

⁴ And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer up upon that altar.

⁵ In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

⁶ And Solomon said, Thou hast shewn unto thy servant David my father great loving-kindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great loving-kindness, that thou hast given him a son who sits upon his throne, as it is this day.

⁷ And now, Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father; and I am but a little child: I know not to go out and to come in.

⁸ And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

⁹ Give therefore to thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy numerous people?

¹⁰ And the word pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

¹¹ And God said to 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 discernment to understand judgment;

¹² behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there hath been none like unto thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

¹³ And 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 all thy days.

¹⁴ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will prolong thy days.

¹⁵ And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

¹⁶ Then came two women, harlots, to the king, and stood before him.

¹⁷ And the first woman said, Ah, my lord! I and this woman abode in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

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

¹⁹ And this woman's child died in the night; because she had lain upon it.

²⁰ And 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 son in my bosom.

²¹ And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; and I considered it in the morning, and behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.

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

²³ Then said the king, The one says, This that is living is my son, and thy son is the dead; and the other says, No, for thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

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

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

²⁶ Then spoke the woman whose was the living child to the king, for her bowels yearned over her son, and she said, Ah, my lord! give her the living child, and in no wise put it to death. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine; divide it.

²⁷ And the king answered and said, Give this one the living child, and in no wise put it to death: she is its mother.

²⁸ And 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.

---

¹ Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

² Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Yahweh until those days.

³ Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer on that altar.

⁵ In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give you.

⁶ Solomon said, You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

⁷ Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I don't know how to go out or come in.

⁸ Your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can't be numbered nor counted for multitude.

⁹ 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 your great people?

¹⁰ The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

¹¹ God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;

¹² behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.

¹³ I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.

¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days.

¹⁵ Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

¹⁶ Then there came two women who were prostitutes, to the king, and stood before him.

¹⁷ The one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

¹⁸ It happened 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, save we two in the house.

¹⁹ This woman's child died in the night, because she lay on it.

²⁰ She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

²¹ When I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.

²² The other woman said, No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. This said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king.

²³ Then said the king, The 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, and my son is the living.

²⁴ The king said, Get me a sword. They brought a sword before the king.

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

²⁶ Then spoke the woman whose the living child was 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 it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.

²⁷ Then the king answered, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is the mother of it.

²⁸ 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.

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¹ Solomon became the son-in-law of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter as his wife, keeping her in the town of David, till the house he was building for himself, and the house of the Lord and the wall round Jerusalem, were complete.

² But all this time the people were making their offerings in the high places, because no house had been put up to the name of the Lord till those days.

³ And Solomon, in his love for the Lord, kept the laws of David his father; but he made offerings and let them go up in smoke on the high places.

⁴ And the king went to Gibeon to make an offering there, because that was the chief high place: it was Solomon's way to make a thousand burned offerings on that altar.

⁵ In Gibeon, Solomon had a vision of the Lord in a dream by night; and God said to him, Say what I am to give you.

⁶ And Solomon said, Great was your mercy to David my father, as his life before you was true and upright and his heart was true to you; and you have kept for him this greatest mercy, a son to take his place this day.

⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in the place of David my father; and I am only a young boy, with no knowledge of how to go out or come in.

⁸ And your servant has round him the people of your selection, a people so great that they may not be numbered, and no account of them may be given.

⁹ Give your servant, then, a wise heart for judging your people, able to see what is good and what evil; for who is able to be the judge of this great people?

¹⁰ Now these words and Solomon's request were pleasing to the Lord.

¹¹ And God said to him, Because your request is for this thing, and not for long life for yourself or for wealth or for the destruction of your haters, but for wisdom to be a judge of causes;

¹² I have done as you said: I have given you a wise and far-seeing heart, so that there has never been your equal in the past, and never will there be any like you in the future.

¹³ And with this I have given you what you made no request for: wealth and honour, so that no king was ever your equal.

¹⁴ And if you go on in my ways, keeping my laws and my orders as your father David did, I will give you a long life.

¹⁵ And Solomon, awakening, saw that it was a dream; then he came to Jerusalem, where he went before the ark of the agreement of the Lord, offering burned offerings and peace-offerings; and he made a feast for all his servants.

¹⁶ Then two loose women of the town came and took their places before the king;

¹⁷ And one of them said, O my lord, I and this woman are living in the same house; and I gave birth to a child by her side in the house.

¹⁸ And three days after the birth of my child, this woman had a child: we were together, no other-person was with us in the house but we two only.

¹⁹ In the night, this woman, sleeping on her child, was the cause of its death.

²⁰ And she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while your servant was sleeping; and she took it in her arms and put her dead child in my arms.

²¹ And when I got up to give my child the breast, I saw that it was dead; but in the morning, looking at it with care, I saw that it was not my son.

²² And the other woman said, No; but the living child is my son and the dead one yours. But the first said, No; the dead child is your son and the living one mine. So they kept on talking before the king.

²³ Then the king said, One says, The living child is my son, and yours is the dead: and the other says, Not so; but your son is the dead one and mine is the living.

²⁴ Then he said, Get me a sword. So they went and put a sword before the king.

²⁵ And the king said, Let the living child be cut in two and one half given to one woman and one to the other.

²⁶ Then the mother of the living child came forward, for her heart went out to her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the child; do not on any account put it to death. But the other woman said, It will not be mine or yours; let it be cut in two.

²⁷ Then the king made answer and said, Give her the child, and do not put it to death; she is the mother of it.

²⁸ And news of this decision which the king had made went through all Israel; and they had fear of the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to give decisions.