New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

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.

1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

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

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.

2

And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to all the princes of all Israel, the chief fathers;

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.)

3

and Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place at Gibeon; for there was God's tent of meeting which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness.

4

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

4

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the [place] that David had prepared for it; for he had spread a tent for it at Jerusalem.

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

5

And the brazen altar that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah; and Solomon and the congregation sought unto 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.

6

And Solomon offered there upon the brazen altar before Jehovah which was at the tent of meeting; and he offered up a thousand burnt-offerings upon it.

7

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

7

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give thee.

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.

8

And Solomon said to God, Thou hast shewn unto David my father great loving-kindness, and hast made me king in his stead.

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!

9

Now, Jehovah Elohim, let thy word unto David my father be firm; for thou hast made me king over a people numerous as the dust of the earth.

10

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

10

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

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 —

11

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

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!”

12

wisdom and knowledge are 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 any after thee have the like.

13

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

13

Then Solomon came back [from] the high place at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tent of meeting, and reigned over Israel.

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.

14

Solomon's Riches

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

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

15

And the king made silver and gold in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he as the sycamores that are in the lowland for abundance.

16

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

16

And the exportation of horses that Solomon had was from Egypt: a caravan of the king's merchants fetched a drove [of horses], at a price.

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.

17

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

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New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

2 Chronicles 1

2 Chronicles 1