7. So those officers provided food for King Solomon and all who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month. They let nothing be lacking.
8. They also brought barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds to the place where it should be, each according to his charge.
9. God gave Solomon wisdom and discernment in great measure, and a breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore.
10. Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
11. For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol and Darda, sons of Mahol—and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.
12. He also composed 3,000 proverbs and his songs were 1,005.
13. He also spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall, and he spoke about beasts, birds, creeping things and fish.
14. People came from everywhere to hear the wisdom of Solomon—from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.
15. Then King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram was always a friend of David.
16. So Solomon sent word to Hiram saying:
17. “You know how my father David could not build a House for the Name of Adonai his God because of the wars around him on every side, until Adonai put them under the soles of my feet.
18. But now Adonai my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor bad incident.
19. So behold, I intend to build a House for the Name of Adonai my God, as Adonai spoke to my father David saying: ‘Your son, whom I will set upon your throne in your place, he will build the House for My Name.’
20. “So now, command that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will give you wages for your servants according to whatever you say; for as you know, there is none among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”