1:7 That night God appeared 3 to Solomon and said to him, “Tell me 4 what I should give you.” 1:8 Solomon replied to God, “You demonstrated 5 great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. 1:9 Now, Lord God, may your promise 6 to my father David be realized, 7 for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. 1:10 Now give me wisdom and discernment so 8 I can effectively lead this nation. 9 Otherwise 10 no one is able 11 to make judicial decisions for 12 this great nation of yours.” 13
1:11 God said to Solomon, “Because you desire this, 14 and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, 15 and because you did not ask for long life, 16 but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king, 1:12 you are granted wisdom and discernment. 17 Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.” 18
1 tn Or “high place.”
2 tn Heb “the tent of meeting of God.”
3 tn Or “revealed himself.”
4 tn Heb “ask.”
5 tn Heb “did.”
6 tn Heb “you word.”
7 tn Or “be firm, established.”
8 tn The cohortative with prefixed vav (ו) following the imperative here indicates purpose/result.
9 tn Heb “so I may go out before this nation and come in.” The expression “go out…and come in” here means “to lead” (see HALOT 425 s.v. יצא qal.4).
10 tn Heb “for.” The word “otherwise” is used to reflect the logical sense of the statement.
11 tn Heb “who is able?” The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”
12 tn Heb “to judge.”
13 tn Heb “these numerous people of yours.”
14 tn Heb “because this was in your heart.”
15 tn Heb “the life of those who hate you.”
16 tn Heb “many days.”
17 tn Heb “wisdom and discernment are given to you.”
18 tn Heb “which was not so for the kings who were before you, and after you there will not be so.”