Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
1 1Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into
2the city of David until he had finished
3building his own house
4and the house of the LORD
5and the wall around Jerusalem.
2
6The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD.
3
Solomon
7loved the LORD,
8walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.
4
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,
9for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5
10At Gibeon
11the LORD appeared to Solomon
12in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."
6
And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because
13he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and
14have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.
7
And now, O LORD my God,
15you have made your servant king in place of David my father,
16although I am but a little child. I do not know
17how to go out or come in.
8
18And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people,
19too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.
9
20Give your servant therefore an understanding mind
21to govern your people, that I may
22discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
10
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
11
And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
12
behold,
23I now do according to your word. Behold,
24I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
13
25I give you also what you have not asked,
26both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.
14
And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments,
27as your father David walked, then
28I will lengthen your days."
15
And Solomon
29awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.