The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's reputation and came to Jerusalem to put his reputation to the test, asking all the tough questions. She made a showy entrance - an impressive retinue of attendants and camels loaded with perfume and much gold and precious stones. She emptied her heart to Solomon, talking over everything she cared about.
1
regina quoque Saba cum audisset famam Salomonis venit ut temptaret eum enigmatibus in Hierusalem cum magnis opibus et camelis qui portabant aromata et auri plurimum gemmasque pretiosas cumque venisset ad Salomonem locuta est ei quaecumque erant in corde suo
2 And Solomon answered everything she put to him - nothing stumped him.
2
et exposuit ei Salomon omnia quae proposuerat nec quicquam fuit quod ei non perspicuum fecerit
3 When the queen of Sheba experienced for herself Solomon's wisdom and saw with her own eyes the palace he had built,
3
quod postquam vidit sapientiam scilicet Salomonis et domum quam aedificaverat
4 the meals that were served, the impressive array of court officials, the sharply dressed waiters, the cupbearers, and then the elaborate worship extravagant with Whole-Burnt-Offerings at The Temple of God, it all took her breath away.
4
necnon cibaria mensae eius et habitacula servorum et officia ministrorum eius et vestimenta eorum pincernas quoque et vestes eorum et victimas quas immolabat in domo Domini non erat prae stupore ultra in ea spiritus
5 She said to the king, "It's all true! Your reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed.
5
dixitque ad regem verus sermo quem audieram in terra mea de virtutibus et sapientia tua
6 I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself; they didn't exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance - far more than I could ever have imagined.
6
non credebam narrantibus donec ipsa venissem et vidissent oculi mei et probassem vix medietatem mihi sapientiae tuae fuisse narratam vicisti famam virtutibus tuis
7 Lucky the men and women who work for you, getting to be around you every day and hear your wise words firsthand!
7
beati viri tui et beati servi tui hii qui adsistunt coram te in omni tempore et audiunt sapientiam tuam
8 And blessed be your God who has taken such a liking to you, making you king. Clearly, God's love for Israel is behind this, making you king to keep a just order and nurture a God-pleasing people."
8
sit Dominus Deus tuus benedictus qui voluit te ordinare super thronum suum regem Domini Dei tui quia diligit Deus Israhel et vult servare eum in aeternum idcirco posuit te super eum regem ut facias iudicia atque iustitiam
9 She then gave the king four and a half tons of gold and sack after sack of spices and precious stones. There hasn't been a cargo of spices like the shipload the queen of Sheba brought to King Solomon.
9
dedit autem regi centum viginti talenta auri et aromata multa nimis et gemmas pretiosissimas non fuerunt aromata talia ut haec quae dedit regina Saba regi Salomoni
10 The ships of Hiram also imported gold from Ophir along with fragrant sandalwood and expensive gems.
10
sed et servi Hiram cum servis Salomonis adtulerunt aurum de Ophir et ligna thyina et gemmas pretiosissimas
11 The king used the sandalwood for fine cabinetry in The Temple of God and the royal palace, and for making harps and dulcimers for the musicians. Nothing like that shipment of sandalwood has been seen since.
11
de quibus fecit rex de lignis scilicet thyinis gradus in domo Domini et in domo regia citharas quoque et psalteria cantoribus numquam visa sunt in terra Iuda ligna talia
12 King Solomon, for his part, gave the queen of Sheba all her heart's desire - everything she asked for. She took away more than she brought. Satisfied, she returned home with her train of servants.
12
rex autem Salomon dedit reginae Saba cuncta quae voluit et quae postulavit multo plura quam adtulerat ad eum quae reversa abiit in terram suam cum servis suis
13 Solomon received twenty-five tons of gold annually.
13
erat autem pondus auri quod adferebatur Salomoni per annos singulos sescenta sexaginta sex talenta auri
14 This was above and beyond the taxes and profit on trade with merchants and traders. All kings of Arabia and various and assorted governors also brought silver and gold to Solomon.
14
excepta ea summa quam legati diversarum gentium et negotiatores adferre consueverant omnesque reges Arabiae et satrapae terrarum qui conportabant aurum et argentum Salomoni
15 King Solomon crafted 200 body-length shields of hammered gold - about fifteen pounds of gold to each shield
15
fecit igitur rex Salomon ducentas hastas aureas de summa sescentorum aureorum qui in hastis singulis expendebantur
16 - and about 300 small shields about half that size. He stored the shields in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.
16
trecenta quoque scuta aurea trecentorum aureorum quibus tegebantur scuta singula posuitque ea rex in armamentario quod erat consitum nemore
17 The king made a massive throne of ivory with a veneer of gold.
17
fecit quoque rex solium eburneum grande et vestivit illud auro mundissimo
18 The throne had six steps leading up to it with an attached footstool of gold. The armrests on each side were flanked by lions.
18
sexque gradus quibus ascendebatur ad solium et scabillum aureum et brachiola duo altrinsecus et duos leones stantes iuxta brachiola
19 Lions, twelve of them, were placed at either end of the six steps. There was no throne like it in any other kingdom.
19
sed et alios duodecim leunculos stantes super sex gradus ex utraque parte non fuit tale solium in universis regnis
20 King Solomon's chalices and tankards were made of gold, and all the dinnerware and serving utensils in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver; silver was considered common and cheap in the time of Solomon.
20
omnia quoque vasa convivii regis erant aurea et vasa domus saltus Libani ex auro purissimo argentum enim in diebus illis pro nihilo reputabatur
21 The king's ships, manned by Hiram's sailors, made a round trip to Tarshish every three years, returning with a cargo of gold, silver, and ivory, apes and peacocks.
21
siquidem naves regis ibant in Tharsis cum servis Hiram semel in annis tribus et deferebant inde aurum et argentum et ebur et simias et pavos
22 King Solomon was richer and wiser than all the kings of the earth - he surpassed them all.
22
magnificatus est igitur Salomon super omnes reges terrae divitiis et gloria
23 Kings came from all over the world to be with Solomon and get in on the wisdom God had given him.
23
omnesque reges terrarum desiderabant faciem videre Salomonis ut audirent sapientiam quam dederat Deus in corde eius
24 Everyone who came brought gifts - artifacts of gold and silver, fashionable robes and gowns, the latest in weapons, exotic spices, horses, and mules - parades of visitors, year after year.
24
et deferebant ei munera vasa argentea et aurea et vestes et arma et aromata equos et mulos per singulos annos
25 Solomon collected horses and chariots. He had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen in barracks in the chariot-cities and in Jerusalem.
25
habuit quoque Salomon quadraginta milia equorum in stabulis et curruum equitumque duodecim milia constituitque eos in urbibus quadrigarum et ubi erat rex in Hierusalem
26 He ruled over all the kings from the River Euphrates in the east, throughout the Philistine country, and as far west as the border of Egypt.
26
exercuit etiam potestatem super cunctos reges a fluvio Eufraten usque ad terram Philisthinorum id est usque ad terminos Aegypti
27 The king made silver as common as rocks and cedar as common as the fig trees in the lowland hills.
27
tantamque copiam praebuit argenti in Hierusalem quasi lapidum et cedrorum tantam multitudinem velut sycaminorum quae gignuntur in campestribus
28 He carried on a brisk horse-trading business with Egypt and other places.
28
adducebantur autem ei equi de Aegypto cunctisque regionibus
29 The rest of Solomon's life and rule, from start to finish, one can read in the records of Nathan the prophet, the prophecy of Ahijah of Shiloh, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat.
29
reliqua vero operum Salomonis priorum et novissimorum scripta sunt in verbis Nathan prophetae et in libris Ahiae Silonitis in visione quoque Iaddo videntis contra Hieroboam filium Nabath
30 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.
30
regnavit autem Salomon in Hierusalem super omnem Israhel quadraginta annis
31 Solomon died and was buried in the City of David his father. His son Rehoboam was the next king.
31
dormivitque cum patribus suis et sepelierunt eum in civitate David regnavitque pro eo Roboam filius eius
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.