8. I, your servant, among the people you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
9. Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?”
10. The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request.
11. So God said to him: Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right—
12. I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you.
13. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days.
14. And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and commandments, as David your father did, I will give you a long life.
15. Solomon awoke; it was a dream! He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, sacrificed burnt offerings and communion offerings, and gave a feast for all his servants.
16. Later, two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
17. One woman said: “By your leave, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth in the house while she was present.
18. On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were alone; no one else was in the house with us; only the two of us were in the house.
19. This woman’s son died during the night when she lay on top of him.
20. So in the middle of the night she got up and took my son from my side, as your servant was sleeping. Then she laid him in her bosom and laid her dead son in my bosom.