1 Kings 3:8-9

3:8 Your servant stands ¹  among your chosen people; ²  they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. 3:9 So give your servant a discerning mind ³  so he can make judicial decisions for ⁴  your people and distinguish right from wrong. ⁵  Otherwise ⁶  no one is able ⁷  to make judicial decisions for ⁸  this great nation of yours.” ⁹ 

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¹ tn There is no verb expressed in the Hebrew text; “stands” is supplied in the translation for clarification.

² tn Heb “your people whom you have chosen.”

³ tn Heb “a hearing heart.” (The Hebrew term translated “heart” often refers to the mental faculties.)

⁴ tn Heb “to judge.”

⁵ tn Heb “to understand between good and evil.”

⁶ tn Heb “for”; the word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.

⁷ tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”

⁸ tn Heb “to judge.”

⁹ tn Heb “your numerous people.”