King James Bible

New Living Translation

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

1

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the LORD his God was with him and made him very powerful.

2

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

2

Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel — the generals and captains of the army,a the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.

3

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

3

Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacleb was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the LORD’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)

4

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

4

David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem.

5

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

5

But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was therec at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the LORD. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the LORD.d

6

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

6

There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the LORD’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

7

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

7

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

8

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

8

Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place.

9

Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

9

O LORD God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!

10

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

10

Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly,e for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

11

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

11

God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people —

12

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

12

I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”

13

Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

13

Then Solomon returned to Jerusalem from the Tabernacle at the place of worship in Gibeon, and he reigned over Israel.

14

Solomon's Riches

And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

14

Solomon built up a huge force of chariots and horses.f He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He stationed some of them in the chariot cities and some near him in Jerusalem.

15

And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

15

The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees that grow in the foothills of Judah.g

16

And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

16

Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypth and from Ciliciai; the king’s traders acquired them from Cilicia at the standard price.

17

And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

17

At that time chariots from Egypt could be purchased for 600 pieces of silver,j and horses for 150 pieces of silver.k They were then exported to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.

Parallel

King James Bible

New Living Translation

2 Chronicles 1

2 Chronicles 1