English Standard Version

1 Kings 3:8-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

8. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.

9. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern 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, I now do according to your word. Behold, I 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. I give you also what you have not asked, both 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, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

15. And Solomon awoke, 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.

16. Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.

17. The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.

18. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house.