Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
(2 Chronicles 1:1–13; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20)

1  וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֣ן (And joined in marriage) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (with) פַּרְעֹ֖ה (Pharaoh) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) מִצְרָ֑יִם (of Egypt), וַיִּקַּ֣ח (and he took) אֶת־ (-) בַּת־ (the daughter) פַּרְעֹ֗ה (of Pharaoh) וַיְבִיאֶ֙הָ֙ (and brought her in) אֶל־ (to) עִ֣יר (the City) דָּוִ֔ד (of David), עַ֣ד (until) כַּלֹּת֗וֹ (his completing) לִבְנ֤וֹת (to build) אֶת־ (-) בֵּיתוֹ֙ (his own house), וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and) חוֹמַ֥ת (the wall) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (Jerusalem) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around).

2  רַ֣ק (Only), הָעָ֔ם (the people) מְזַבְּחִ֖ים (sacrificed) בַּבָּמ֑וֹת (at the high places), כִּ֠י (because) לֹא־ (not) נִבְנָ֥ה (there had been built) בַ֙יִת֙ (a house) לְשֵׁ֣ם (for the name) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) עַ֖ד (until) הַיָּמִ֥ים (the days) הָהֵֽם׃פ (those). 3  וַיֶּאֱהַ֤ב (And loved) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), לָלֶ֕כֶת (walking) בְּחֻקּ֖וֹת (in the statutes) דָּוִ֣ד (of David) אָבִ֑יו (his father), רַ֚ק (only) בַּבָּמ֔וֹת (at the high places) ה֥וּא (he) מְזַבֵּ֖חַ (sacrificed) וּמַקְטִֽיר׃ (and burned incense).

4  וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (And went) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (the king) גִּבְעֹ֙נָה֙ (to Gibeon) לִזְבֹּ֣חַ (to sacrifice) שָׁ֔ם (there), כִּ֥י (for) הִ֖יא (that was) הַבָּמָ֣ה (the high place) הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה (great). אֶ֤לֶף (A thousand) עֹלוֹת֙ (burnt offerings) יַעֲלֶ֣ה (offered) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon) עַ֖ל (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֥חַ (the altar) הַהֽוּא׃ (that).

5  בְּגִבְע֗וֹן (At Gibeon) נִרְאָ֧ה (appeared) יְהֹוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (to) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) בַּחֲל֣וֹם (in a dream) הַלָּ֑יְלָה (by the night), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), שְׁאַ֖ל (Ask) מָ֥ה (what) אֶתֶּן־ (shall I give) לָֽךְ׃ (to you).

6  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה (Solomon), אַתָּ֨ה (You) עָשִׂ֜יתָ (have shown) עִם־ (to) עַבְדְּךָ֙ (Your servant) דָוִ֣ד (David) אָבִי֮ (my father) חֶ֣סֶד (loving devotion) גָּדוֹל֒ (great), כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (because) הָלַ֨ךְ (he walked) לְפָנֶ֜יךָ (before You) בֶּאֱמֶ֧ת (in truth), וּבִצְדָקָ֛ה (and in righteousness), וּבְיִשְׁרַ֥ת (and in uprightness) לֵבָ֖ב (of heart) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with You), וַתִּשְׁמָר־ (and You have continued) ל֗וֹ (for him) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֤סֶד (loving devotion) הַגָּדוֹל֙ (great) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וַתִּתֶּן־ (and You have given) ל֥וֹ (him) בֵ֛ן (a son) יֹשֵׁ֥ב (to sit) עַל־ (on) כִּסְא֖וֹ (his throne), כַּיּ֥וֹם (as it is day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

7  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) יְהוָ֣ה (O YHWH) אֱלֹהָ֔י (my God), אַתָּה֙ (You) הִמְלַ֣כְתָּ (to reign) אֶֽת־ (have made) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (Your servant) תַּ֖חַת (in place) דָּוִ֣ד (of David) אָבִ֑י (my father), וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ (and I am) נַ֣עַר (a child) קָטֹ֔ן (little). לֹ֥א (Not) אֵדַ֖ע (I do know) צֵ֥את (going out) וָבֹֽא׃ (or coming in). 8  וְעַ֨בְדְּךָ֔ (And Your servant is) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) עַמְּךָ֖ (of Your people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) בָּחָ֑רְתָּ (You have chosen), עַם־ (a people) רָ֕ב (numerous) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) יִמָּנֶ֛ה (is to be numbered) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִסָּפֵ֖ר (to be counted) מֵרֹֽב׃ (for multitude).

9  וְנָתַתָּ֨ (And give) לְעַבְדְּךָ֜ (to Your servant) לֵ֤ב (a heart) שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙ (understanding) לִשְׁפֹּ֣ט (to judge) אֶֽת־ (-) עַמְּךָ֔ (Your people), לְהָבִ֖ין (that I may discern) בֵּֽין־ (between) ט֣וֹב (good) לְרָ֑ע (and evil). כִּ֣י (For) מִ֤י (who) יוּכַל֙ (is able) לִשְׁפֹּ֔ט (to judge) אֶת־ (-) עַמְּךָ֥ (people of Yours) הַכָּבֵ֖ד (great) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this)?

10  וַיִּיטַ֥ב (And was good) הַדָּבָ֖ר (and the word) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) אֲדֹנָ֑י (of the Lord), כִּ֚י (that) שָׁאַ֣ל (had asked) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the thing) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֱלֹהִ֜ים (God) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), יַעַן֩ (Because) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ (you have asked) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֗ה (this), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ (have asked) לְּךָ֜ (for yourself) יָמִ֣ים (life) רַבִּ֗ים (long), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ (have asked) לְּךָ֙ (for yourself) עֹ֔שֶׁר (riches), וְלֹ֥א (and not) שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ (have asked) נֶ֣פֶשׁ (the life) אֹיְבֶ֑יךָ (of your enemies), וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ (and you have asked) לְּךָ֛ (for yourself) הָבִ֖ין (understanding) לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ (to discern) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice)— 12  הִנֵּ֥ה (behold), עָשִׂ֖יתִי (I have done) כִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ (according to your words). הִנֵּ֣ה׀ (Behold), נָתַ֣תִּי (I have given) לְךָ֗ (to you) לֵ֚ב (a heart) חָכָ֣ם (wise) וְנָב֔וֹן (and understanding), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (so that) כָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ (like you) לֹא־ (none) הָיָ֣ה (there has been) לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (before you), וְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ (and after you) לֹא־ (shall none) יָק֥וּם (shall arise) כָּמֽוֹךָ׃ (like you).

13  וְגַ֨ם (And also) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (what) לֹֽא־ (not) שָׁאַ֙לְתָּ֙ (you have asked), נָתַ֣תִּי (I have given) לָ֔ךְ (to you), גַּם־ (both) עֹ֖שֶׁר (riches) גַּם־ (and) כָּב֑וֹד (honor), אֲ֠שֶׁר (so that) לֹא־ (not) הָיָ֨ה (there shall be) כָמ֥וֹךָ (like you) אִ֛ישׁ (anyone) בַּמְּלָכִ֖ים (among the kings) כָּל־ (all) יָמֶֽיךָ׃ (your days). 14  וְאִ֣ם׀ (And if) תֵּלֵ֣ךְ (you walk) בִּדְרָכַ֗י (in My ways) לִשְׁמֹ֤ר (to keep) חֻקַּי֙ (My statutes) וּמִצְוֺתַ֔י (and My commandments), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) הָלַ֖ךְ (walked) דָּוִ֣יד (David) אָבִ֑יךָ (your father), וְהַאַרַכְתִּ֖י (and I will prolong) אֶת־ (-) יָמֶֽיךָ׃ס (your days).

15  וַיִּקַ֥ץ (And awoke) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold) חֲל֑וֹם (it was a dream). וַיָּב֨וֹא (And he came) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם (to Jerusalem) וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֣ד׀ (and stood) לִפְנֵ֣י׀ (before the face of) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) אֲדֹנָ֗י (of the Lord), וַיַּ֤עַל (and he offered up) עֹלוֹת֙ (burnt offerings), וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (and he made) שְׁלָמִ֔ים (peace offerings), וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (and he made) מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה (a feast) לְכָל־ (for all) עֲבָדָֽיו׃פ (his servants).

Solomon Judges Wisely

16  אָ֣ז (Then) תָּבֹ֗אנָה (came) שְׁתַּ֛יִם (two) נָשִׁ֥ים (women), זֹנ֖וֹת (prostitutes), אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king) וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖דְנָה (and they stood) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before his face).

17  וַתֹּ֜אמֶר (And said) הָאִשָּׁ֤ה (woman) הָֽאַחַת֙ (one), בִּ֣י (Please) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord), אֲנִי֙ (I) וְהָאִשָּׁ֣ה (and the woman) הַזֹּ֔את (this) יֹשְׁבֹ֖ת (dwell) בְּבַ֣יִת (in the house) אֶחָ֑ד (one), וָאֵלֵ֥ד (and I gave birth) עִמָּ֖הּ (while she was) בַּבָּֽיִת׃ (in the house). 18  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), בַּיּ֤וֹם (the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ (third) לְלִדְתִּ֔י (of my bringing forth) וַתֵּ֖לֶד (and brought forth), גַּם־ (also) הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (the woman) הַזֹּ֑את (this), וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ (and we were) יַחְדָּ֗ו (together). אֵֽין־ (No) זָ֤ר (one was) אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ (with us) בַּבַּ֔יִת (in the house) זוּלָתִ֥י (except) שְׁתַּֽיִם־ (the two) אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (of us) בַּבָּֽיִת׃ (in the house). 19  וַיָּ֛מָת (And died) בֶּן־ (the son) הָאִשָּׁ֥ה (of the woman) הַזֹּ֖את (this) לָ֑יְלָה (in the night), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (because) שָׁכְבָ֖ה (she lay) עָלָֽיו׃ (on him). 20  וַתָּקָם֩ (And she arose) בְּת֨וֹךְ (in the middle) הַלַּ֜יְלָה (of the night) וַתִּקַּ֧ח (and took) אֶת־ (-) בְּנִ֣י (my son) מֵֽאֶצְלִ֗י (from my side)— וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙ (and your maidservant) יְשֵׁנָ֔ה (slept)— וַתַּשְׁכִּיבֵ֖הוּ (and laid him) בְּחֵיקָ֑הּ (in her bosom), וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנָ֥הּ (her child) הַמֵּ֖ת (dead) הִשְׁכִּ֥יבָה (she laid) בְחֵיקִֽי׃ (in my bosom). 21  וָאָקֻ֥ם (And I rose) בַּבֹּ֛קֶר (in the morning) לְהֵינִ֥יק (to nurse) אֶת־ (-) בְּנִ֖י (my son), וְהִנֵּה־ (and there) מֵ֑ת (he was dead). וָאֶתְבּוֹנֵ֤ן (And I considered) אֵלָיו֙ (concerning him) בַּבֹּ֔קֶר (in the morning), וְהִנֵּ֛ה (and behold), לֹֽא־ (not) הָיָ֥ה (he was) בְנִ֖י (my son) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) יָלָֽדְתִּי׃ (I had borne).

22  וַתֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (the woman) הָאַחֶ֜רֶת (other), לֹ֣א (No), כִ֗י (but) בְּנִ֤י (my son) הַחַי֙ (the living one is), וּבְנֵ֣ךְ (and your son) הַמֵּ֔ת (the dead one is).

וְזֹ֤את (And this woman) אֹמֶ֙רֶת֙ (said), לֹ֣א (No), כִ֔י (but) בְּנֵ֥ךְ (your son) הַמֵּ֖ת (the dead one is), וּבְנִ֣י (and my son) הֶחָ֑י (the living one is). וַתְּדַבֵּ֖רְנָה (And they spoke) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

23  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), זֹ֣את (This one) אֹמֶ֔רֶת (says), זֶה־ (This is) בְּנִ֥י (my son) הַחַ֖י (who lives), וּבְנֵ֣ךְ (and your son is) הַמֵּ֑ת (the dead one), וְזֹ֤את (and this one) אֹמֶ֙רֶת֙ (says), לֹ֣א (No), כִ֔י (but) בְּנֵ֥ךְ (your son is) הַמֵּ֖ת (the dead one), וּבְנִ֥י (and my son is) הֶחָֽי׃פ (the living one).

24  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), קְח֣וּ (Bring) לִי־ (me) חָ֑רֶב (a sword). וַיָּבִ֥אוּ (And they brought) הַחֶ֖רֶב (a sword) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king). 25  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), גִּזְר֛וּ (Divide) אֶת־ (-) הַיֶּ֥לֶד (the child) הַחַ֖י (living) לִשְׁנָ֑יִם (in two), וּתְנ֤וּ (and give) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲצִי֙ (half) לְאַחַ֔ת (to one) וְאֶֽת־ (and) הַחֲצִ֖י (half) לְאֶחָֽת׃ (to one).

26  וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (And spoke) הָאִשָּׁה֩ (the woman) אֲשֶׁר־ (whose) בְּנָ֨הּ (son) הַחַ֜י (was living) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), כִּֽי־ (for) נִכְמְר֣וּ (she yearned) רַחֲמֶיהָ֮ (with compassion) עַל־ (for) בְּנָהּ֒ (her son), וַתֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and she said), בִּ֣י (Please) אֲדֹנִ֗י (my lord), תְּנוּ־ (give) לָהּ֙ (her) אֶת־ (-) הַיָּל֣וּד (the child) הַחַ֔י (living), וְהָמֵ֖ת (and) אַל־ (by no means) תְּמִיתֻ֑הוּ (kill him).

וְזֹ֣את (And this one) אֹמֶ֗רֶת (said), גַּם־ (Even) לִ֥י (unto me) גַם־ (or) לָ֛ךְ (unto you) לֹ֥א (not) יִהְיֶ֖ה (let him be); גְּזֹֽרוּ׃ (divide him)!

27  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), תְּנוּ־ (Give) לָהּ֙ (the first woman) אֶת־ (-) הַיָּל֣וּד (the child) הַחַ֔י (living), וְהָמֵ֖ת (and) לֹ֣א (by no means) תְמִיתֻ֑הוּ (kill him). הִ֖יא (She is) אִמּֽוֹ׃ (his mother).

28  וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ (And heard) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel) אֶת־ (of) הַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ (the judgment) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָׁפַ֣ט (had rendered) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), וַיִּֽרְא֖וּ (and they feared) מִפְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), כִּ֣י (for) רָא֔וּ (they saw) כִּֽי־ (that) חָכְמַ֧ת (the wisdom) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (of God) בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ (was within him), לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to administer) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ס (justice).