1 Kings 3:7-9

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 stands ²  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 mind ⁴  so he can make judicial decisions for ⁵  your people and distinguish right from wrong. ⁶  Otherwise ⁷  no one is able ⁸  to make judicial decisions for ⁹  this great nation of yours.” ¹⁰ 

1 Kings 3:11-12

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, ¹¹  3:12 I ¹²  grant your request, ¹³  and give ¹⁴  you a wise and discerning mind ¹⁵  superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. ¹⁶ 

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

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

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

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

⁵ tn Heb “to judge.”

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

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

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

⁹ tn Heb “to judge.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “your numerous people.”

¹¹ tn 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.”

¹² tn This statement is introduced in the Hebrew text by the particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “look”) which draws attention to and emphasizes what follows.

¹³ tn 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.

¹⁴ tn 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”).

¹⁵ tn Heb “heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

¹⁶ tn Heb “so that there has not been one like you prior to you, and after you one will not arise like you.”