6. So she said to King Solomon, “What I heard in my own country about your achievements and wisdom is true.
7. I could not believe it then, but now I have come and seen it with my own eyes. I was not told even half of it! Your wisdom and wealth are much greater than I had heard.
8. Your men and officers are very lucky, because in always serving you, they are able to hear your wisdom.
9. Praise the Lord your God, who was pleased to make you king of Israel. The Lord has constant love for Israel, so he made you king to keep justice and to rule fairly.”
10. Then she gave the king about nine thousand pounds of gold and many spices and jewels. No one since that time has brought more spices than the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11. (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir, as well as much juniper wood and jewels.
12. Solomon used the juniper wood to build supports for the Temple of the Lord and the palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Such fine juniper wood has not been brought in or been seen since that time.)
13. King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and asked for, in addition to what he had already given her of his wealth. Then she and her servants returned to her own country.
14. Every year King Solomon received about fifty thousand pounds of gold.
15. Besides that, he also received gold from the traders and merchants, as well as from the kings of Arabia and governors of the land.
16. King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold, each of which contained about seven and one-half pounds of gold.
17. He also made three hundred smaller shields of hammered gold, each of which contained about four pounds of gold. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.
18. The king built a large throne of ivory and covered it with fine gold.