7. Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a lad [in wisdom and experience]; I know not how to go out (begin) or come in (finish).
8. Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who cannot be counted for multitude.
9. So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people? [James 1:5.]
10. It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
11. God said to him, Because you have asked this and have not asked for long life or for riches, nor for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize what is just and right,
12. Behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise, discerning mind, so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall any arise after you equal to you.
13. I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings equal to you all your days.
14. And if you will go My way, keep My statutes and My commandments as your father David did, then I will lengthen your days.
15. Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. He came to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
16. Then two women who had become mothers out of wedlock came and stood before the king.
17. And 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 the third day after I was delivered, this woman also was delivered. And we were together; no stranger was with us, just we two in the house.
19. And this woman's child died in the night because she lay on him.
20. And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me while your handmaid slept and laid him in her bosom and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21. And when I rose to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I had considered him in the morning, behold, it was not the son I had borne.