1 Kings 3:7-13

3:7 Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced.¹ 3:8 Your servant stands² among your chosen people;³ they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 3:9 So give your servant a discerning mind⁴ so he can make judicial decisions for⁵ your people and distinguish right from wrong.⁶ Otherwise⁷ no one is able⁸ to make judicial decisions for⁹ this great nation of yours.”¹⁰ 3:10 The Lord¹¹ was pleased that Solomon made this request.¹² 3:11 God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,¹³ 3:12 I¹⁴ grant your request,¹⁵ and give¹⁶ you a wise and discerning mind¹⁷ superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.¹⁸ 3:13 Furthermore, I am giving¹⁹ you what you did not request – riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.²⁰

¹tn Heb “and I do not know going out or coming in.”

²tn There is no verb expressed in the Hebrew text; “stands” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

³tn Heb “your people whom you have chosen.”

⁴tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

⁵tn Heb “to judge.”

⁶tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”

⁷tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.

⁸tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”

⁹tn Heb “to judge.”

¹⁰tn Heb “your numerous people.”

¹¹tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in v.15 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).

¹²tn Heb “And the thing was good in the eyes of the Lord, for Solomon asked for this thing.”

¹³tn Heb “because you asked for this thing, and did not ask for yourself many days and did not ask for yourself riches and did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you asked for yourself understanding to hear judgment.”

¹⁴tn This statement is introduced in the Hebrew text by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows.

¹⁵tn Heb “I am doing according to your words.” The perfect tense is sometimes used of actions occurring at the same time a statement is made.

¹⁶tn This statement is introduced by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows. The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made (i.e., “right now I give you”).

¹⁷tn Heb “heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

¹⁸tn Heb “so that there has not been one like you prior to you, and after you one will not arise like you.”

¹⁹tn The translation assumes that the perfect tense here indicates that the action occurs as the statement is made.

²⁰tn Heb “so that there is not one among the kings like you all your days.” The LXX lacks the words “all your days.”